Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, 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 disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.