🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt 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 replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down 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 footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris 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 release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.