Messages Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.