Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.
'I'll make sure you're well looked after'
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording 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 recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".
Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
British Affairs Discussed in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.