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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.