🔗 Share this article

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, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

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

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane 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 talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

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

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

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

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

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

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

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.