Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet 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 delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.