Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection
In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".
These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, 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 advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."
But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".
Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.
A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.