Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.