Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.