🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning 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 estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.