Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".
These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.
For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A short time before 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 expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."
British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".
May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.