Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh 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 request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as 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 White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.