Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation 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 mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.