🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

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

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "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 "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

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

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

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.