Correspondence Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's key strategists prior to stepping down from the administration in August 2017

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

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

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked 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 pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

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

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

Craig Brown
Craig Brown

A passionate gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering console and PC gaming trends across Europe.