🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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 released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations referenced.

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

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly 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.