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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the flight we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air departing at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were released on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The release by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, occurrences, and places mentioned.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise 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, did not reply on the request for comment.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his show earlier this year, he stated: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, next year - early next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released communications also show Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in that year.

On the day of his speech at the Oxford, 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 the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the period, he continued: "They are attempting to proceed. May soon…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as long as you can 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 little courage" and added "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

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

A spokesman for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the release of over 20,000 documents from his archives.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently rejected any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.