Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

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

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

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.