Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.