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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious 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 my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

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

These exchanges were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to confirm his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest 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 August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

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

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was eventually removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

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

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced Trump, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.