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

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".

These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

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

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, 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: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.