🔗 Share this article

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 interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, 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 served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the exchange 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 history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

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

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.