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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an amazing assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.

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 Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, 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 approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was finally removed in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

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

Some of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.