Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, 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 run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.