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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".

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

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

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 run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down 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 footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "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 replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

A portion of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.