Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise 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 is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.