🔗 Share this article Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship Bannon was one of Trump's closest strategists prior to stepping down from the White House in August 2017 In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union. The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow". Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant". These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages 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 managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced. For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16. Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment. Epstein's Assurance to Bannon Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017. He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year." But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant. A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ". Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded". Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of." UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year. On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg." Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…" Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through." Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up". Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018. A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred. The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019. Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate. A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.