Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's top advisers prior to stepping down from the administration in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

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

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

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

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

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Valerie Harrison
Valerie Harrison

A writer and philosopher exploring the intersections of luck, mindfulness, and personal growth through engaging narratives.