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

The event was disrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about chartering a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's closest advisers in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people get the dedication of your follow through."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely however the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in 2019.

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

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