Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". 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 misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party 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 occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.