Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House 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 recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.