Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's top strategists before resigning from the White House in August 2017

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

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

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, 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 suggest 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 seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

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

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

Jody Goodman
Jody Goodman

A software engineer and tech writer passionate about AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, with over 8 years of industry experience.