Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers before stepping down from the administration in 2017

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 numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit 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 period, he added: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

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

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

Sandra Hahn
Sandra Hahn

A tech enthusiast with a background in software engineering, passionate about exploring how emerging technologies shape our world and daily lives.