Shockwaves are rippling through the political landscape following the release of Justice Department documents revealing that Steve Bannon, a prominent strategist for former President Donald Trump and a key figure in the MAGA movement, was reportedly close to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had discussed invoking the 25th Amendment against Trump.

The documents, which include text messages and emails from late 2017 until Epstein's arrest in July 2019, illustrate discussions about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office and Bannon's attempts to advise Epstein as the latter faced new legal scrutiny.

The files also indicate a prolonged relationship between the two men, persisting even after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

In a text message exchange that began on New Year's Eve 2018, shortly after Democrats regained the majority in the House, Bannon reportedly told Epstein that "the WH has no plan to fight back" amid escalating political pressure.

Epstein responded, referencing Trump and stating, "He is so close to the edge. I don't know what he will do."

Bannon replied, "This looks like it’s over the edge. It’s a 25th Amendment violation," referring to the constitutional provision that allows the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to remove a president deemed unfit for office.

Bannon also wrote of Trump, "We really need intervention."

The release of these text messages has ignited backlash from some conservatives, according to Newsmax.

"If Bannon and Epstein were both involved, then Bannon should be brought in and interrogated," claimed former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn in an X post.

U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) echoed these concerns, writing, "It is absolutely unacceptable to maintain such an intimate relationship with Epstein after he was convicted, from 2018-2019. Never."

Bannon himself has, of course, not publicly commented on the specific content of the 25th Amendment discussions.

In a response to The New York Times, Bannon stated, "I am a filmmaker and television host who has interviewed controversial figures for decades. These private conversations should only be viewed through the lens of a documentary filmmaker working to gain hours of interview time over a long period from a reclusive figure."

Newsmax identified Bannon as a key source for Michael Wolff's explosive 2018 book "Fire and Fury," suggesting that Wolff facilitated the meeting between Epstein and Bannon.

Wolff's "Fire and Fury" depicted a chaotic White House and raised questions about Trump's fitness for office, igniting early public discussions about potentially invoking the 25th Amendment.

According to Newsmax, Bannon's messaging shifted towards crisis management as Epstein's legal troubles mounted following investigative reporting by the Miami Herald in early 2019.

In April 2019, Bannon texted Epstein: "First, you must fight the lies. Second, you must utterly destroy the pedophile/trafficking claims. Then, you must rebuild your image as a philanthropist."

In another message, Bannon underscored the reputational risks: "We must rebut the claim that 'you are a rapist who traffics young girls to be raped by the most powerful and wealthy men in the world'—this is never going to recover."

When news broke in February 2019 that federal prosecutors were reviewing Epstein's 2008 plea deal, Epstein asked Bannon if he should publicly respond.

Bannon's response was blunt: "Have you lost your f****** mind?" He added, "The moment you say ANYTHING, this is global story#1!!!!!"

The documents also indicate that Bannon advised Epstein on legal and public relations strategies, even recommending two attorneys. However, neither attorney ended up representing Epstein, according to the report.

In an April 2019 text, Bannon wrote, "I will do media training at your house on Friday afternoon. We will film with two cameras and my team is absolutely confidential," to which Epstein reportedly replied that the training would be a "harrowing ordeal."

The two men exchanged specific details about travel and meetings at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse and his Paris apartment. In March 2019, Bannon inquired if he could send a plane to Epstein in Rome, and Epstein responded that a plane was unavailable but he would pay for a charter. A few days later, Bannon wrote, "Can I stay over at your house tonight?" and Epstein replied, "Yes, stay over."

Epstein also offered to cover Bannon's medical expenses and gifted him and his son Apple Watches, according to related documents.

These details suggest an intimate relationship between Bannon and Epstein. However, a spokesperson for Bannon stated that he never used Epstein's private planes or his personal physician.

In an email correspondence cited in the press release, Epstein mentioned to an acquaintance about Bannon's financial backers, "Someone has to fund his bullshit," a reference to Bannon's alliance with Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui.

Despite Epstein's escalating legal peril, communication with him continued through July 2019.

The two had planned to meet shortly after Epstein's return from Paris.

However, he was arrested immediately upon landing in New Jersey.

"All canceled," Epstein texted Bannon. That was his final message to Bannon.

The newly released messages place Bannon at the center of two sensitive narratives of the Trump era: internal discussions about the president's fitness for office and the complex web of relationships surrounding Epstein, Newsmax summarized.

While Bannon maintains his conversations were part of his media work, and some analysts suggest Trump's reluctance to release Epstein files stemmed from concerns about damaging his own associates, the Bannon-Epstein relationship is once again under intense scrutiny.

Another concern is that the release of Epstein's files is not clearing up suspicions but rather fueling them and turning them into a source of a witch hunt. This includes political adversaries as well as power struggles within the administration aiming for dominance.

By Hong Sung-goo, Chief Reporter, USA NNP / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com