Correspondence Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.