Messages Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's top strategists before resigning from the administration in August 2017

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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".

These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents 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 few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

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

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

A spokesman for the political party told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.

Jeffery Shields
Jeffery Shields

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