🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

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

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply 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 presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

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

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

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

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

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.