Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.