Correspondence Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.