Messages Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.