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

The speech was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

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

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

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