Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.