🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

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