Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's top strategists prior to stepping down from the administration in August 2017

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

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

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

The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

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

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Richard Stevens
Richard Stevens

A seasoned full-stack developer passionate about creating efficient web applications and sharing knowledge through technical writing.