Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.