Correspondence Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation 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 the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.