Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's top advisers prior to resigning from the administration in August 2017

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

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

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential 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 documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

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

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

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Anne Davis
Anne Davis

A tech analyst with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and emerging technologies, passionate about demystifying complex tech trends.