Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Relationship

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

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

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

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.

Katie Arias
Katie Arias

Award-winning photographer specializing in landscape and portrait photography, with over a decade of experience in digital imaging.