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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a Gulf Air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These exchanges were published on Wednesday together with more than 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a plane from the UK for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who is not accused of any misconduct, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon served as Trump's closest aides in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days 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 passing and reportedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time 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 history ".

Bannon thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The released messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing UK politics in 2018.

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the Brexit issue this day with Nigel, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others get the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May remain in power". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to step up".

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

A representative for the political party informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide next week on whether the justice department should release all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

A portion 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, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.