Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about 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 November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK 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 took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.