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In late 2018, Steve Bannon, formerly a top aide to Donald Trump, visited the UK to deliver a speech at the prestigious 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 email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to the airport".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were published on this week alongside more than 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations mentioned.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk 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 key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein seemed to arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the highest-paid booking agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Not Included".

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

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

The published messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, 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. Best-- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was finally toppled in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK told the BBC: "Nigel Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting occurred.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The leader was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but says they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.