Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.