Correspondence Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk 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 served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of 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 aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.