Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk 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 run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 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 earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.