Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's top strategists prior to stepping down from the administration in August 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.

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

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

These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

David Gillespie
David Gillespie

A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in online gambling, specializing in slot machine mechanics and player psychology.