Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection

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

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment 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 lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate 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 prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

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

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

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.