Correspondence Reveal Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties

Steve Bannon
Bannon served as Trump's key strategists prior to resigning from the White House in August 2017

In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise 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 is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

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

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.

Pam Henry
Pam Henry

A Canadian journalist and cultural critic with over a decade of experience covering national and international affairs.