Messages Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department 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 publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.