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 interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".
Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.
For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.
Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.
He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.
A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".
Bannon thanked him: "U r 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 are taken care of."
The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.
On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."
Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.
The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.
Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.
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