Emails Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's key advisers prior to resigning from the administration in 2017

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

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly 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 another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson 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 added: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Olivia Martin
Olivia Martin

A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation, focusing on emerging technologies and their business applications.