Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's closest strategists before resigning from the White House in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

Karen Rogers
Karen Rogers

Award-winning astrophysicist and science communicator passionate about making space accessible to everyone.