🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel 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 responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside 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 establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

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

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

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

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

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve 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 make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

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 referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.