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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.