🔗 Share this article

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 event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers 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 acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan 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 disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

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

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

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, 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 make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.