Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
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 disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
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 was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.