Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein 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 prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet 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 "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

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

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.