Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
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 key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.