In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
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 well looked after."
UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.
Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.
