Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering 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 delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.