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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent helper".

These messages were released on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 pages from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the messages, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's key advisers in the lead-up to the 2016 election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years before Epstein was initially charged.