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

The event was interrupted by numerous 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 flight we are heading to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were published on this week together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

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

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A representative for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon 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 powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.