Messages Uncover the late financier and Steve Bannon Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's closest advisers prior to stepping down from the White House in 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing helper".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

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

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

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

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Cynthia Fleming
Cynthia Fleming

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and business innovation across Europe.