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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 hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers 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 documentary about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

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

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Best-- so others get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.