Disgraced pedophile Jeffrey Epstein gifted podcaster Steve Bannon an Apple Watch in 2019, according to a message from Bannon’s nephew Sean to Epstein’s longtime assistant Lesley Groff.
In the email, sent on the evening of January 24, 2019, Sean wrote: “Hey Lesley. Steve has been given his Apple Watch! Please let me know if you need anything else.” The message was sent with the subject line: “Steve Bannon has his Apple Watch.”
The email was revealed in documents released by the Department of Justice. Bannon received the watch just months before Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking minors.
Epstein purchased the watch for Bannon around the time he acquired a collection of Apple Watches for friends, including Kathryn Ruemmler, former Obama White House counsel. Ruemmler received a version of the watch featuring the Hermes logo.
In an email from November 2018, a redacted Epstein associate asked: “Shall we purchase the Hermes Apple Watch and Hermes bands for both Steve and Sean Bannon? (this would be the top of the line. The face of the watch says ‘Hermes Paris’) $1,499 each.”
Bannon, like Ruemmler, advised Epstein on media strategies as Epstein faced increased scrutiny over his criminal activities. Reports indicate that Bannon planned to produce a documentary aimed at rehabilitating Epstein’s image and even floated filming it “on the island” — referring to Epstein’s private Caribbean property where minors were sexually abused.
According to reports, Bannon texted Epstein to schedule a filming date on the same day Epstein was arrested in 2019.
Bannon did not respond immediately to requests for comment.