Emails Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part 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 misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about 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 thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not 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 Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.