Messages Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford 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 was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe 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 over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.