Epstein Documents Reveal Bannon's European Political Maneuvering
Newly released files from the Jeffrey Epstein case have shed significant light on Steve Bannon's extensive efforts to influence European politics through financial support for far-right movements. The documents, containing dozens of messages primarily from 2018 and 2019, reveal how Donald Trump's former chief strategist sought to tap the convicted sex offender for funding to bolster nationalist parties across the continent.
Targeting European Nationalist Movements
After his departure from the Trump administration, Bannon regularly traveled to Europe with the explicit goal of forging a unified movement within the European Parliament. His vision involved uniting ultra-rightwing and Eurosceptic forces from multiple nations including Italy, Germany, France, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, and Austria. The messages demonstrate Bannon's strategic focus on building what he described as a "new rightwing populist" coalition that could serve both his and Epstein's interests.
In a particularly revealing message dated March 5, 2019, just months before the European parliamentary elections, Bannon wrote to Epstein stating he was "focused on raising money for Le Pen and Salvini so they can actually run full slates." This direct communication highlights the financial ambitions behind Bannon's political operations in Europe during this critical electoral period.
Salvini and the Italian Connection
Bannon's European strategy placed particular emphasis on Matteo Salvini, the Italian deputy prime minister and leader of the far-right League party who was at the height of his political power in 2018-2019. The documents reference multiple meetings between Bannon and Salvini, including one in Milan in March 2018 shortly after Italian general elections that resulted in the League forming a coalition government with the populist Five Star Movement.
Italian opposition parties have responded forcefully to these revelations, with centre-left Democratic party politician Andrea Casu demanding clarity and transparency from the government regarding potential foreign influences. Riccardo Magi, president of the leftwing party Più Europa, has gone further, claiming the files "implicate Matteo Salvini in alleged funding that Bannon had promised to provide for his election campaign."
The League party has vehemently denied any financial connections to Epstein, dismissing speculation as "unfounded" and "serious exaggerations." In an official statement, the party asserted it has "never requested or received funding" from such sources and would defend itself "in every way possible in the event of insinuations or associations with disgusting figures."
French Political Figures Implicated
The Epstein files have also stirred controversy in France, where several prominent figures appear in the communications. Former culture minister Jack Lang acknowledged knowing Epstein during what he described as "a time when nothing suggested Jeffrey Epstein was at the heart of a network of criminality." His daughter Caroline, a film producer, resigned from France's Union of Independent Producers after emails revealed she had founded an offshore company with Epstein in 2016 to invest in young artists' work.
Further communications show extensive exchanges between Epstein and Olivier Colom, a former diplomatic adviser to rightwing president Nicolas Sarkozy. One particularly notable email from 2018 suggested that former finance minister Bruno Le Maire had visited Epstein's New York residence. Sources close to Le Maire clarified that this occurred in September 2013 before he became finance minister, and that he departed immediately upon recognizing Epstein, never having contact with him again.
Broader European Implications
The documents reveal Bannon's broader ambitions for European politics, including his promotion of Germany's Alternative für Deutschland party while disparaging then-chancellor Angela Merkel. Messages from 2018 show Bannon boasting about his influence as an "adviser" to emerging rightwing populist movements across the continent, viewing their electoral gains as opportunities for mutual benefit.
Andrea Casu emphasized that the significance of these files extends beyond Epstein himself, stating: "These files are getting a lot of attention in the US, as is obvious. But in my opinion, they should be given just as much attention for what they represent for Europe today, and for the political situation in which we are in." The revelations raise fundamental questions about foreign influence networks operating within European political systems and their potential impact on democratic processes.
While there is no evidence of direct relations between Salvini and Epstein, nor any suggestion that Salvini was involved in Epstein's sex-trafficking network, the messages clearly demonstrate Epstein's interest in European nationalist movements and Bannon's attempts to leverage that interest for political financing. The documents provide unprecedented insight into the financial dimensions of transatlantic rightwing political coordination during a pivotal period in European politics.
