In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".
Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".
These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Epstein's Assurance to Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."
But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."
British Affairs Mentioned in Messages
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.
Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".
Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.
A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.
The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.
A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.
