Emails Reveal the late financier and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's top advisers before stepping down from the administration in 2017

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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

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

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run 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 making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Shannon Cole
Shannon Cole

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring the intersection of innovation and everyday life.