🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

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

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

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

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.