Correspondence Highlight the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties

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

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".

These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

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

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

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 closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting 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 jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

Catherine Ramirez
Catherine Ramirez

A cybersecurity specialist with over a decade of experience in Windows environments and threat analysis.

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