Messages Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's key advisers before resigning from the White House in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

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

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."

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

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

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.

Megan Mann
Megan Mann

A tech enthusiast and design thinker with over a decade of experience in digital innovation, sharing insights on emerging trends.