🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run 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 acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released 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 Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

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