Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.