🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

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

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.