Emails Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated 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, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.