Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
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 places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union 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 Trump's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of over 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 parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.