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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside over 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 identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually removed in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Attention 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 mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. 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 first arrested.