Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "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-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.