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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters 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 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were released 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 name is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

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

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.