Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter 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 died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.