Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". 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 misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.