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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for 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 my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".

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

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

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

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.