Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".
These messages were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly 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, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.