🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

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

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.