Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.