Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, 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 presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.