Emails Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties

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

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

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

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange 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.

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

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, 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 recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to 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 history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."

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

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.

Allison Velasquez
Allison Velasquez

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering casino trends and slot machine innovations.