🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

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

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused 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 aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.