🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

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

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

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

He has admitted 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 recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents indicate 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 prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue 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 long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK 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 Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.