Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.