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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing assistant".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early 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 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 said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed recently after the release of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.