Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.