Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane 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 gave the talk at the Oxford Union 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 served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.