Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times 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: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.