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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 interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed my talk don't think I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

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

These exchanges were published on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any misconduct, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show recently, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

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

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

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

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in late 2018.

A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.