Emails Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
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 the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.