Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key advisers prior to resigning from the White House in August 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise 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 faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times 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: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

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

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.

Kimberly Smith
Kimberly Smith

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in IT consulting and digital transformation projects across Europe and Asia.