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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

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

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

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC managed to confirm his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

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

Bannon was one of Trump's closest aides 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 admitted he was making a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to release the series, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

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

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, 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 that year.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people get the dedication of your follow-up."

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

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.