Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed 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 before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.