Correspondence Highlight Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers before resigning from the White House in August 2017

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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

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

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

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

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

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

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

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

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.

Chelsea Ortega
Chelsea Ortega

Award-winning film critic with over a decade of experience covering international cinema and festival circuits.