Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and 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 records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.