Emails Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and former Trump strategist Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's top advisers before stepping down from the administration in 2017

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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon served as the president's closest 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 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before 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 travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

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

Judy Clark
Judy Clark

A philosopher and statistician who writes about the intersection of luck, probability, and human experience, with a background in behavioral science.