Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish 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 took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
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 lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.