Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, 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 recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship 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 seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.