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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein talks about chartering a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit thing this morning with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the justice department should make public all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

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

Some of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.