Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.