🔗 Share this article

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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were published on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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 served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

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