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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk don't think I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

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

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the Congressional committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, events, and locations referenced.

For example, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and delivered the talk at the Oxford Union two days later.

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 closest aides in the run 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 acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast recently, he said: "We're going to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein extended than documenting his life, with the disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein seemed to booked 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 asst", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

The released communications also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about UK politics in that year.

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon texted Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit thing this day with Farage, Johnson and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled British leader at the time, he added: "The guys are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Will Theresa may survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how BUT the guys over here have no balls" and added "Boris ; Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will decide next week on whether the Department of Justice should release all its files concerning its investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for a long time, but says they fell out in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.