Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers before stepping down from the administration in August 2017

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

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

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

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

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

Amy Chan
Amy Chan

A tech strategist with over a decade in digital innovation, specializing in AI integration and sustainable tech solutions across European markets.