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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a speech at the Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".

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

These messages were released on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

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

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, 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 remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

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

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob 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 Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.