🔗 Share this article Correspondence Uncover Jeffrey Epstein and Steve Bannon Ties Bannon was one of the former president's closest strategists prior to resigning from the White House in August 2017 In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union. The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport". Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant". These exchanges were published on this week together with 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 name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced. For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16. Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment. Epstein's Assurance to Bannon Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down 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 recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year." But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide. A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel 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 visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of." UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018. Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg." Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may soon…" Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow through." Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up". Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018. A representative for Reform UK told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred. The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate. Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.