🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

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

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.