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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

These exchanges were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

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

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

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

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

A portion 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 early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.