🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, 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 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

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

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

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

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

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

Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

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