🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt 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 answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

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

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.