Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment 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 run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.