Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.