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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

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

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

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", 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 taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.