Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges 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 iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.