🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection 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 appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

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

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

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

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 relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

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