Correspondence Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers before stepping down from the administration in August 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

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

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked 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 quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

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

Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith

A UK-based tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering digital transformation and startup ecosystems across Europe.