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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

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

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

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

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

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting 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 died in prison in that year.

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

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