Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.