Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers before stepping down from the White House in August 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump'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 White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and 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 release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those referenced the former president, 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.

Austin Kim
Austin Kim

A tech enthusiast and gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering industry trends and hardware innovations.