Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on this week alongside 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 has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts 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, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.