Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting 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 jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.