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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, previously a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK preparing for a address at the prestigious Oxford Union.

The event was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an amazing helper".

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

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

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the chat, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union two days later.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, did not reply on the inquiry.

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

Bannon was one of the president's key aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein prior to his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a recording 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 recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

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

Discussing a visit to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein told Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the day of his speech at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and noted "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the release of over 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 a long time, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.