Correspondence Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration 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 recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.