Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
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 closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see 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 no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.