🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses 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 November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

'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 during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.