Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These messages were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user 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 was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.