Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's key advisers before stepping down from the White House in 2017

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

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

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

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

Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early 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 few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Rebecca Campos
Rebecca Campos

A UK-based tech strategist with over 15 years in digital innovation, specializing in enterprise solutions and business growth.