Emails Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.