Correspondence Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations 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 advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.