🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".

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

The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated 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, did not reply on the inquiry.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.