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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his show recently, he stated: "We're going to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein told Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Nigel, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the struggling UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as long as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; David Davis - someone has to take charge".

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

A spokesman for the political party told media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was renewed recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was first arrested.