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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

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

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much 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 over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 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 such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.