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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

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

These messages were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional 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 locations mentioned.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

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

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

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