🔗 Share this article Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship Bannon was one of Trump's closest strategists before resigning from the administration in 2017 In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union. The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow". Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant". These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned. For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later. Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment. Epstein's Assurance to Bannon Bannon served as the president's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017. He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year." But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide. A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ". Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included". Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of." UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year. On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg." Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…" Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through." Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge". Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018. A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred. The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year. Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate. Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.