Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of the former president's top advisers before stepping down from the White House in 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

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

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

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

Rachael Mcdonald
Rachael Mcdonald

Digital strategist with 8+ years in AI marketing, specializing in content automation and SEO optimization for tech startups.