🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".

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

The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places 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 participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further 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 arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

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

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.