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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the run up to the presidential 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 death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party told media: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.