🔗 Share this article

In November 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, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of 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 administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet 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 "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, 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 others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.