Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, 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 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.