Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.