Messages Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump'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 White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 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 occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.