Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going 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 occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrowâŠ"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.