🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations 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 closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

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

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.