Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were released on this week alongside 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. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days 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 around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.