Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". 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.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as 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 August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.