Correspondence Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.