🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute 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 helper".

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

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

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

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

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied 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 first arrested.