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

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the flight we r enroute to the airport".

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

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

The release by the Congressional committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a jet from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the request for comment.

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

Bannon was one of Trump's key aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a aide.

A few days before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

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

Then, in what appears to be a reference to the UK prime minister, the struggling British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa may remain in power". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a gathering with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with powerful figures was reignited this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those referenced the former president, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.