Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.