🔗 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 event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane 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 amazing helper".

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 includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

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

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.