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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk don't think I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union 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 key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the recently disclosed documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before 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 the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

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

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

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

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

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.