Messages Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously 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 demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may soonâŠ"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages 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 says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.