Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.