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

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

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

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

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

May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.