Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon 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 influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.