If you can get past the headline, Steve Bannon had an extremely interesting and complicated relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Their discussions revolved around creating a plan to restore Epstein’s sullied reputation. At a time when he could have been vulnerable, Epstein certainly had major legal challenges looming. Weightier still was the public scorn that Barrett faced as a convicted sex offender. Throughout a 10-month period, the two men had a series of discussions about tactics. Their top priority became media strategy, public relations strategies, managing the public narrative.
In a lawsuit filed in May 2019, Epstein complained. He was especially riled up about one minor thing in a New York Post piece related to his Virgin Island hideaway. He emphasized the importance of controlling narratives surrounding him, stating in a discussion, “Underwater office? Lots of Steve quotes.” This comment is a pretty clear indication of just how much he’s leaned on Bannon to control the narrative of his public persona.
Epstein’s worries reached beyond the establishment to political leaders too. He asked for clarification on statements issued by Senator Ben Sasse, referring to the fact that Sasse was calling him a child rapist. This line of questioning highlighted just how serious Epstein’s predicament was as he was experiencing backlash from all sides.
Epstein and Bannon planned tactics in conversation throughout their long-term relationship. Their goal was to have a single project up and running by April 2019, helping Epstein “redeem” his name. Bannon recognized the difficulty of this task, stating, “Yes yes yes of course—but we must counter ‘rapist who traffics in female children to be raped by the world’s most powerful, richest men’—that can’t be redeemed.” This exchange reveals that both men were intimately familiar with the numerous accusations against Epstein. They knew how hard it would be to tackle those challenges.
The communications documents help fill out a portrait of an Epstein who stayed very much in the media mix right up until his July 2019 arrest. On June 3, 2019, he texted Bannon. At the heart of this message were meetings brokered by Andrew with then-President Donald Trump — shedding light on his continuing connections to powerful players. Just weeks later, on June 20, 2018, Epstein found himself at the center of an anti-Trump protest during one of the president’s speeches. This event illustrated the ways in which his legal troubles bled into the political sphere.
Those conversations were happening as Epstein became the focus of tremendous outside pressure for a highly dubious plea arrangement. On June 25, 2019, prosecutors communicated to sex abuse victims that the deal “must stand,” further complicating Epstein’s efforts to navigate his public relations crisis. Sure enough, just days after our conversation, on July 7, 2019, Epstein was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking.
Bannon’s ties to Epstein went way beyond shooting off a text. He filmed around 15 hours of footage with Epstein for a documentary, slated for release in 2024. This effort illustrated Bannon’s dedication to ensuring a sympathetic platform from which Epstein could tell his story.
In their meetings and discussions, they focused on finding ways to beat back the spreading #MeToo movement. This is the movement that fought for transformative measures on the 2020 ballot. Bannon admitted that redeeming Epstein would be a tall order, considering the abundance of evidence piled against him. “Can’t redeem unredeemable—you are a lot of things—which we will show—but you are NOT that,” he stated.
Epstein’s reflections on his situation were candid. He mused about his capacity to affect change within the Trump administration, asserting his role in potentially dismantling it: “Yes thx. It’s wild. Because I am the one able to take him down.” These affectionate comments capture his understanding that the real power lay in the connections he controlled.
Our investigation into the exchanges between Bannon and Epstein show a deep and complicated scheme of strategy and tricks. While Epstein sought to humanize himself to the public—stating he needed help editing materials and planning interviews—Bannon remained focused on countering negative narratives surrounding Epstein’s reputation.
At times, their discussions turned personal. In one message, Epstein expressed frustration over being called a child rapist by Sasse, exclaiming: “Sasse calling me a child rapist is nuts!!! Sorry do. You mean ignore or responding makes it worse?” Such a move would demonstrate Epstein’s sensitivity to the effects of public statements on his otherwise tenuous grip on his position.
As their relationship matured, Bannon became a deeply-trusted confidant for Epstein. He orchestrated behind the scenes and directed Epstein’s way through the media minefield and PR gauntlet. Their communication underscored a mutual understanding of the stakes involved in maintaining Epstein’s image amidst allegations of serious criminal conduct.