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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

'I'll make sure you're well looked after'

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein before his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

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

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

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

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.