Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". 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 misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers 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 admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.