🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

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 White House 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 publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.