🔗 Share this article

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

The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

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

Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "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 relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

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