Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers prior to resigning from the administration in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents 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 redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering 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 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Ronald Cox
Ronald Cox

A storyteller and life coach who shares real-world experiences to empower others in their personal and professional journeys.