Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's top strategists prior to resigning from the White House in August 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages 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 iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

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

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

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

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

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

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

Some of those referenced 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.

Ryan Taylor
Ryan Taylor

A digital futurist and VR developer with over a decade of experience in immersive technology and metaverse design.