Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as 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 administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with 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 justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.