🔗 Share this article

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides 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 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

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

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

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.