Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday 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 identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.