Messages Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
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 Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next 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 occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.