🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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 presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

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

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance 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.