Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part 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 wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key aides 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 admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time 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 history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.