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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

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

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

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the speech at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to 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 travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

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

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes 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 no evidence such a meeting took place.

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 jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly denied any impropriety. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was initially charged.