Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties
In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".
These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane 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 on November 16.
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 Trump's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.
A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
UK Politics Mentioned in Messages
The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.