Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane 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 assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". 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 Trump's closest advisers in the lead-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 making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.