🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

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

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

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest 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 admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.