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

The speech was interrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent assistant".

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

The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by matching the dates, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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 closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, next year - at the start of next year."

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

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

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

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Boris ; Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK told media: "Nigel Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote 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.

Attention in Epstein's associations 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 rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.