Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages 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 identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers 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 producing a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended 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 charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel 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 decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.