🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging 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 on November 16.

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

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 first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

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

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted 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 struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

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

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.