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

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to the airport".

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

These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

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

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford 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 Trump'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 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

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

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for the political party told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

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

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.