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

The event was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an amazing helper".

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

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. Media outlets managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he said: "We're going to publish the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

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

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

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced Trump, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.