Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers prior to stepping down from the administration in August 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Nathaniel Thompson
Nathaniel Thompson

Cloud architect and tech journalist with over a decade of experience in cloud infrastructure and digital transformation.