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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 interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

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

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days before 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 thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

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

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.