Newly released documents have exposed a series of private communications between former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing jokes about Epstein's role as a link between the US President and the then-Prince Andrew.
The Wreath-Laying Incident and Text Exchange
The messages, part of a 23,000-document dump handed to the US House Oversight Committee by Epstein's estate, coincided with President Trump's first state visit to the UK in 2019. During this visit, Trump and his wife Melania were photographed laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, with the then-Prince Andrew standing alongside them.
Shortly after images of the event emerged, Epstein sent a text message to Bannon stating, "Prince Andrew and Trump today. Tooo funny." He followed up with another message pointing out, "Recall Prince Andrew's accuser came out of Mar A Lago." Bannon replied to the paedophile financier, "Can't believe nobody is making u the connective tissue."
Andrew's Desperate Emails and Mandelson's Warning
Further documents reveal a 2011 email chain in which the then-Prince Andrew, facing mounting criticism over his friendship with Epstein, desperately contacted the financier. In the email, which copied in Epstein's fixer Ghislaine Maxwell and two lawyers, Andrew wrote, "Hey there! What's all this? I don't know anything about this! You must SAY so please. This has NOTHING to do with me. I can't take any more of this."
In a separate July 2011 email, Epstein appeared to confirm the authenticity of the infamous photograph of Andrew with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, writing, "Yes she [Giuffre] was on my plane and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew."
The documents also show that Epstein remained in contact with former UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, until at least 2016. In one exchange, Epstein appears to tell Lord Mandelson, "you were right about staying away from Andrew." The peer responded, "Yes, without Andrew it would not have gone nuclear." When Epstein forwarded a 2011 media request concerning himself and the Prince, Mandelson's advice was succinct: "No!!"
Aftermath and Denials
These revelations come amidst ongoing scrutiny of Prince Andrew's association with Epstein. Virginia Giuffre alleged she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager and forced to have sex with the royal, which he vehemently denies. Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre for a reported £12 million in 2022 without admitting liability. Following the publication of her posthumous memoir, King Charles removed Andrew's 'prince' title and is evicting him from Royal Lodge.
In a 2019 BBC interview, Andrew said he had "no recollection" of meeting Giuffre but stated he would be "duty-bound" to testify under oath if required. He acknowledged meeting Epstein before and after the financier's first conviction and confirmed visits to Epstein's island and private plane.
Responding to the document release, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Democrats of leaking select emails to "create a fake narrative to smear President Trump." Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.
