Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual 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 request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.