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

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places referenced.

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

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, did not reply 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 White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

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

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

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

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