In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.
The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".
Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".
These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.
For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.
Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.
Bannon served as Trump'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 film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."
But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.
A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".
Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".
Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."
The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.
On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."
Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"
Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."
Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".
May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.
A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.
The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.
Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.
Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.
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