🔗 Share this article

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent helper".

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

The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, 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 charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

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

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing 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 time, he continued: "The guys are attempting 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 dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

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

The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

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