Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused 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 run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection 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 remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.