Messages Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key strategists before stepping down from the administration in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were released on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-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 admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide 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 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.

Christopher Woodard
Christopher Woodard

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in tech consulting and innovation.