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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious 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: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

On the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the people here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.