In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make 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: "You are an excellent helper".
These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.
The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.
Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.
Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.
He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."
But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.
A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".
Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."
The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.
Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"
Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".
Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.
A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.
The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.
A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.
