Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply 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 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.