Correspondence Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual 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 on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest 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 private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Messages
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and 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 files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.