🔗 Share this article

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

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

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted 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 embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

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

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.