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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

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

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused 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 key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

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

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was initially charged.