Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's closest strategists before stepping down from the administration in 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before 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 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 Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

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

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

Angel Sparks
Angel Sparks

A seasoned IT consultant with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and cybersecurity strategy.