Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's closest advisers before stepping down from the administration in 2017

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

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

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Mary Nolan
Mary Nolan

Cybersecurity analyst with over a decade of experience in threat detection and digital forensics.