Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents 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 redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.