🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".

These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

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 matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

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

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

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

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative 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 no evidence that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

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