Messages Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.