🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

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

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

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

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

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act 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 highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and 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 soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.