Messages Highlight the late financier and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's top advisers 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 Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".

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

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

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

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming 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 disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.

Jeffrey Johnson
Jeffrey Johnson

A political analyst with over a decade of experience covering UK governance and public affairs, specializing in policy impact assessments.

Popular Post