Correspondence Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's top strategists prior to stepping down from the administration in August 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

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

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers 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 admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

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

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

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

William Harris
William Harris

Marcus Thorne is a UK-based tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and industry trends.