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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

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

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents suggest 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 private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.