Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC 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 unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, 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 lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days 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 allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.