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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 prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to heathrow".

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

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

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

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

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

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

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