Emails Reveal the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's key strategists prior to resigning from the White House in 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 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, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

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

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

Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.

Mr. William Mason
Mr. William Mason

A software engineer and tech writer passionate about AI ethics and open-source projects, with over a decade of industry experience.