Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked 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 pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.