Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.