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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK to deliver a address at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

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

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered 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 served as Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

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

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for the political party 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 took place.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.