Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's key strategists before resigning from the White House in August 2017

In late 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 hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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

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

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

Mrs. Sonya Jones
Mrs. Sonya Jones

A former professional gambler turned analyst, specializing in statistical modeling for UK sports markets.