Emails Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Connection

Steve Bannon
Bannon was one of Trump's key strategists before resigning from the administration in August 2017

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

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Thomas Murphy
Thomas Murphy

Elara Fischer is a Swiss-based cultural journalist with over a decade of experience covering arts and heritage across Europe.