Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching 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 offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides 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 admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured 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 UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.