Correspondence Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.