Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "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 Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased 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 involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.