🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". 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, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

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 most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.