Messages Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.