Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.