Emails Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.