Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked 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 asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.