🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.