Correspondence Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "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 being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.