Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's key strategists before resigning from the administration in 2017

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

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

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

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

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

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

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.

Lisa Tyler
Lisa Tyler

A data scientist specializing in AI ethics and machine learning applications in healthcare.