Emails Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.