🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt 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: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run 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 film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics 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, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

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

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

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