Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's closest strategists prior to resigning from the White House in August 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

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

The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days 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 passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

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

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

Barbara Mccoy
Barbara Mccoy

A tech journalist and digital strategist with a passion for uncovering innovative gadgets and sharing practical tech advice.