Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel 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 decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.