🔗 Share this article Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers prior to stepping down from the White House in 2017 In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union. The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow". Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper". These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes. The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced. For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16. Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment. 'I'll make sure you're well looked after' Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017. He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year." But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide. A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have 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: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included". Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of." UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year. Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg." Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…" Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through." Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up". Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018. A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred. The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019. Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives. Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.