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

The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

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

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.