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In November 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly Donald Trump's chief strategist, was in the UK preparing for a address at the Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were published on this week together with more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional 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 places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

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

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to publish the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. may soon…"

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

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.