Steve Bannon

Hundreds of messages show Bannon discussing media responses, interviews, opinion pieces and how to present Epstein's previous conviction while his reputation was under pressure. Bannon also filmed approximately 15 hours of interviews with Epstein in 2019. A lengthy video sequence published in 2026 shows a highly familiar conversation focusing more on politics, economics and philosophy than on victims.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Epstein files released in 2026 show Bannon describing to Epstein his work strengthening European nationalist parties and, in March 2019, saying he was 'focused on raising money for Le Pen and Salvini' ahead of the European elections. The exchanges also mention AfD and the search for backing for Bannon's transnational political strategy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Messages released in the Epstein files show Bannon claiming to have encouraged Australian billionaire Clive Palmer to spend approximately 60 million dollars on advertising in his 2019 campaign. The revelation raised questions about Bannon's possible transnational political influence on Australian elections.

State of the evidence

Denied by the person

Attribution

Political responsibility

Hundreds of messages and a lengthy filmed interview show that Bannon maintained a close working relationship with Epstein shortly before the latter's arrest, advising him on communications and developing a documentary project that might contribute to his public rehabilitation. The exchanges also addressed US and European politics.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Close aide

Bannon became associated with the Dignitatis Humanae Institute to turn the Certosa di Trisulti, a medieval monastery owned by the Italian State, into a training centre for populist and nationalist activists. The Italian Ministry of Culture initiated and confirmed revocation of the concession, citing unmet contractual obligations. In June 2026, the Lazio administrative court rejected another appeal by the institute.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

At the end of his CPAC speech, Bannon extended his right arm with his palm facing down. Many observers immediately interpreted the gesture as resembling a Nazi salute; Jordan Bardella cancelled his CPAC appearance, denouncing an allusion to Nazi ideology, and the ADL expressed concern.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Although the 22nd Amendment prohibits the same person from being elected President more than twice, Bannon stated in 2025 that he believed Trump would run in 2028 and that allies were working on the issue, mentioning constitutional reinterpretations or 'workarounds'. His remarks fuelled controversy over respecting term limits and planning a third term.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Bannon was federally indicted in 2020 in the 'We Build the Wall' case. New York authorities subsequently described fundraising of more than 15 million dollars from thousands of donors on the basis of false representations. Donald Trump pardoned him in the federal case in January 2021, but separate New York State proceedings followed. In February 2025, Bannon pleaded guilty to one count of scheme to defraud and received a three-year conditional discharge.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

During a prolonged dispute over immigration, technology and influence within the MAGA movement, Bannon called Elon Musk an 'agent of influence' for the Chinese Communist Party, elsewhere described him as a parasitic illegal immigrant and subsequently demanded a special investigation, revocation of his security clearance and suspension of federal contracts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Bannon refused to provide documents or appear in accordance with the 6 January committee's subpoena. A grand jury indicted him for contempt of Congress, and a federal jury found him guilty on both counts in July 2022. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and a 6,500 dollar fine. The Court of Appeals upheld the convictions in May 2024, and Bannon began serving his sentence on 1 July 2024.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

An October 2020 recording shows Bannon explaining in advance that Trump intended to declare victory before vote counting was complete. The 6 January committee subsequently described Bannon as participating in the public 'Stop the Steal' effort, preparations around 6 January and the Willard hotel 'war room'; on 5 January, Bannon publicly predicted that 'all hell is going to break loose' the next day.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Bannon became closely associated with exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, held positions in Guo-linked organisations and was described as a non-executive director of GTV Media. In 2021, GTV, Saraca and Voice of Guo agreed to pay more than 539 million dollars to settle SEC allegations concerning unlawful unregistered offerings of securities and digital assets.

State of the evidence

Settlement

On his 'War Room' programme, Bannon referred to Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray, saying that he would place their 'heads on pikes', in the manner of Tudor England. Twitter permanently suspended the War Room account for glorifying violence; Facebook, YouTube and Spotify also removed excerpts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Bannon helped launch Cambridge Analytica and became its vice-president in 2014. Former research director Christopher Wylie alleged that Bannon supervised early psychographic profiling efforts, had to approve substantial expenditure and approved the programme using Facebook data collected through Aleksandr Kogan's application. The scandal subsequently revealed unauthorised access to data from tens of millions of users.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

In Michael Wolff's book, Bannon was quoted describing the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting as 'treasonous' and 'unpatriotic' and attacking several Trump family members. Trump publicly disavowed him, major Republican donors withdrew their support and Bannon left Breitbart a few days later.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The New Yorker announced a public interview with Bannon as a headline event at its festival. Writers, artists, readers and employees protested, and several guests threatened to withdraw, arguing that the festival stage would give him undue legitimacy. David Remnick withdrew the invitation a few hours later.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Bannon helped establish Cambridge Analytica and served as its vice-president and board member before the 2016 campaign. The company later became central to a global scandal involving use of Facebook data from tens of millions of users for political targeting.

State of the evidence

Documented

Bannon had registered a Miami-Dade house as his voting residence even though an investigation found indications he did not actually live there. The affair drew particular attention while Donald Trump was publicly alleging widespread electoral fraud. Miami-Dade prosecutors examined whether Bannon had falsely declared his residence.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

In the White House, Bannon and Stephen Miller played central roles in drafting Trump's first executive order suspending entry by nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries and the refugee programme. Prepared by a small circle, the order prompted airport detentions, mass protests, international criticism and a series of court injunctions before being replaced with revised versions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Trump gave his chief strategist a permanent seat on the National Security Council's Principals Committee, a decision fiercely criticised as politicising a body traditionally dominated by diplomatic, military and intelligence officials. A new presidential memorandum removed Bannon from the committee in early April 2017 and restored a more traditional composition.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Several senators asked Bannon and the White House ethics officer for explanations following reports of repeated contact with his former employer Breitbart and privileged access granted to the outlet. They believed these communications appeared to conflict with the administration's ethics pledge and rules concerning former employers.

State of the evidence

Documented

In his first major public appearance as Trump's adviser, Bannon identified three government priorities: sovereignty and security, economic nationalism and 'deconstruction of the administrative state'. He also repeatedly described the media as the 'opposition party'. These statements crystallised concerns among those who saw his programme as a structural attack on the federal administration and checks and balances.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

After seven months as chief strategist, Bannon left the White House following internal struggles with other factions and as the administration faced the crisis caused by Trump's response to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Officials said John Kelly had pushed for his removal to stabilise the team; Bannon maintained that he had submitted his resignation earlier.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Close aide

After allegations emerged that Roy Moore had pursued or sexually assaulted teenage girls when he was an adult, numerous Republican leaders withdrew their support. Bannon instead continued defending Moore, denouncing a media operation and turning the election into a test of his battle against the Republican establishment. Moore ultimately lost the Alabama election.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

After becoming Breitbart's executive chairman following Andrew Breitbart's death, Bannon sharpened the site's stance on immigration, Islam, feminism and the struggle against the establishment. In 2016, he described Breitbart as 'the platform for the alt-right', a phrase that became emblematic of criticism that the outlet had provided a distribution infrastructure for movements including white nationalists and antisemites.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Under Bannon's leadership, Breitbart extensively covered Gamergate and promoted Milo Yiannopoulos, turning a video game controversy marked by harassment campaigns into a vehicle for cultural and political mobilisation. Retrospective investigations described this period as a bridge between Gamergate communities and the alt-right that would later support Trump.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After Breitbart journalist Michelle Fields accused Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of grabbing her forcefully, Fields and several colleagues criticised the website's management for not supporting her. Fields and editor-at-large Ben Shapiro resigned; Shapiro explicitly accused Bannon of turning Breitbart into 'Trump's personal Pravda' and abandoning his own journalist.

State of the evidence

Documented

Documents from the divorce dispute report Mary Piccard alleging that Bannon opposed certain private schools because they enrolled too many Jewish pupils and that he made other antisemitic remarks.

Attribution

Accused

Bannon led and advised IGE/Affinity, a company buying and reselling gold and virtual items in online games. The business model was strongly challenged by players and publishers, who accused it of encouraging farming, spam and practices degrading the gaming experience. A class action notably argued that the trading violated World of Warcraft's terms of service.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Tasked by investors with restructuring Biosphere 2, Bannon became central to an extremely contentious takeover. Court records described changes to locks and access codes in 1994. A recording cited in the litigation captured him calling a female scientist a 'bimbo' and threatening to make her swallow a document about safety problems; in his deposition and at trial, he acknowledged the insult and characterised it as an outburst of anger.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

After an argument with his then wife Mary Louise Piccard, Bannon was charged in California with domestic violence, battery and attempting to dissuade a victim or witness from reporting a crime. The police report recorded Piccard's allegations and marks observed on her wrist and neck. The case was dropped in August 1996 when Piccard did not appear at trial.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome