Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
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 Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are 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 speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.