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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

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

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

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user 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 two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, 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 said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected 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.