🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

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

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days 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 booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

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

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected 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.