Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For example, 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 November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.