Emails Uncover the late financier and former Trump strategist Relationship

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's closest strategists before stepping down from the White House in August 2017

In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave 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 the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.

Julia Ballard
Julia Ballard

A technology researcher with over a decade of experience in AI and data science, passionate about sharing knowledge.