The latest release of Epstein files has revealed dozens of messages exposing attempts by Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former chief strategist, to secure funding from Jeffrey Epstein to support European far-right parties. The messages, primarily from 2018 and 2019, document Bannon’s efforts to forge alliances with ultra-rightwing and Eurosceptic forces across multiple European countries during his post-White House period.
According to the newly released documents, Bannon actively courted Epstein for financial backing while positioning himself as an adviser to emerging nationalist movements across Europe. The messages specifically mention Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen as potential recipients of this support, prompting calls for political inquiries in both countries.
Bannon’s European Political Ambitions and Epstein Files
The Epstein files reveal that Bannon traveled extensively throughout Europe during this period, meeting with far-right leaders in countries including Italy, Germany, France, Hungary, Poland, Sweden and Austria. His stated goal was to create a unified movement in the European parliament that would advance nationalist and anti-EU agendas. In one March 2019 message, Bannon wrote that he was “focused on raising money for Le Pen and Salvini so they can actually run full slates” ahead of European parliamentary elections.
Italian opposition parties have called on Salvini to clarify whether Epstein influenced the rise of his League party. However, there is no evidence of direct relations between Salvini and Epstein, nor any suggestion that Salvini was involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. Additionally, the League party has dismissed speculation about Epstein funding as “unfounded” and stated it has “never requested or received funding” from such sources.
International Political Fallout
In France, La France Insoumise has demanded a cross-party parliamentary inquiry after several French political figures appeared in the files. The messages document exchanges between Epstein and Bannon discussing fundraising efforts for Marine Le Pen and other nationalist causes. Meanwhile, former French culture minister Jack Lang acknowledged knowing Epstein but stated this occurred “at a time when nothing suggested Jeffrey Epstein was at the heart of a network of criminality.”
The files also revealed communications promoting Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland party while criticizing then-Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to German media reports. These revelations have sparked discussions about potential foreign influence on European political movements during a critical period of nationalist resurgence.
Questions About Foreign Influence
Andrea Casu, a politician with Italy’s center-left Democratic party, raised concerns in parliament about the broader implications of the revelations. He emphasized the need for “clarity and transparency” regarding potential links between Bannon, Epstein, and European rightwing forces. Similarly, Riccardo Magi of the leftwing party Più Europa claimed the files raise concerns about “potential external influence affecting the second-largest party in the current majority.”
The documents detail Bannon’s meeting with Salvini in Milan in March 2018, shortly after Italian general elections that brought the League into government. Salvini’s party later joined Bannon’s anti-EU organization, the Movement, in September 2018. However, no evidence has emerged confirming that Epstein actually provided financial support to any of these parties.
Broader European Connections in Documents
Beyond political funding questions, the files revealed various connections between Epstein and European figures. In France, Caroline Lang, daughter of Jack Lang and a film producer, resigned from France’s Union of Independent Producers after emails showed she founded an offshore company with Epstein in 2016 to invest in young artists’ work. She stated she resigned from the company when Epstein’s criminal activities became public, with no suggestion of illegality on her part.
The documents also contained extensive communications between Epstein and Olivier Colom, a former diplomatic adviser to Nicolas Sarkozy. One email exchange suggested former finance minister Bruno Le Maire visited Epstein’s New York residence, though sources close to Le Maire indicated he was unaware whose house he was visiting and left quickly upon seeing Epstein.
Bannon has declined to comment on the exchanges revealed in the latest Epstein files, according to US media reports. Italian and French authorities have not announced formal investigations into the matters raised by the documents, though political pressure continues to mount for clarity on potential foreign influence operations targeting European democracies.
