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

The speech was disrupted by numerous protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the plane we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a Gulf Air departing at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

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

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a plane 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 two days later.

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

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

Bannon was one of the president's key advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his first administration, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We're going to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Messages

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

Earlier on the same day his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris 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 suggested Bannon: "I think staying as long as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the people over here have no balls" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - somebody has to take charge".

Theresa May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding multiple attempts of lack of support in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence that encounter took place.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the justice department should make public all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited this week after the release of more than 20,000 documents from his archives.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The president was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was first arrested.