Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon 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 event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered 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 key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended 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 appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.