Emails Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's closest strategists before resigning from the White House in August 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 speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK 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 talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

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

Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

Michael James
Michael James

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about innovation and storytelling.