🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

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

These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

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

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. 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.