🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

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

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange 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 thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

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

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob 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 Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.