Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland 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 speech at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate 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 short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges
The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.