Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's top advisers prior to resigning from the administration in 2017

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

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

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

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

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

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

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

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.

Nathaniel Rivera
Nathaniel Rivera

A passionate retro gamer and historian, Elara has been collecting and writing about classic arcade games for over a decade.