Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.