Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch 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 excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional 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, events, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.