Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship 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 seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "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 Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.