🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

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

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 Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently 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 prior to Epstein was first arrested.