Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed 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 before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.