🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records 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. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.