Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
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 disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt 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 published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.