🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

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

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

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

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

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