Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers prior to resigning from the White House in 2017

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

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, 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 the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".

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 text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

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

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the lead-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 admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Michael Day
Michael Day

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on society.