Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "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 published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.