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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 event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused 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 presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

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

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.