Messages Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

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

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

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

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

'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 during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

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

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

David Anthony
David Anthony

A former casino dealer turned gambling analyst, specializing in slot machine mechanics and responsible gaming practices.