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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

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

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

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 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 death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance 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.