Messages Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's top advisers before stepping down from the administration in 2017

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

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

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 was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

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

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

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

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

Matthew Hubbard
Matthew Hubbard

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in SEO and content marketing, passionate about helping brands thrive online.