Correspondence 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 address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting 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 that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.