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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously Donald Trump's chief strategist, visited the UK to deliver a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think 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 excellent helper".

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

The release by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

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

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. 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 discussing British political matters in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Best-- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.