Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". 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 misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast 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 documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.