🔗 Share this article

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

The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations 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 lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "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 documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

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

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."

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

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.