Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.