Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's key advisers prior to stepping down from the administration in 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

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

Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

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

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

A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.

Lindsey Perry
Lindsey Perry

A tech enthusiast and UX designer with over a decade of experience in creating user-centered digital products and sharing knowledge through writing.