Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as the former president's top strategists prior to resigning from the White House in August 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in 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 board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see 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 guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.

Jonathan Jackson
Jonathan Jackson

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on business and society.