🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

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

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

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, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, 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: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.