Correspondence Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key strategists before stepping down from the administration in 2017

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 interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

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

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Ryan Roy
Ryan Roy

Marcus is a gaming analyst with over a decade of experience covering the UK iGaming market and regulatory developments.