Messages Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.