Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.