🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

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

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". 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 was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

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

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.