Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.