🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

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

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department 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 reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.