Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published 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 includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.