🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

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 2019.

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

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.