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

The speech was interrupted by numerous demonstrators, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech I doubt I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "That. 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 estate of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the House oversight committee contains an text conversation where Bannon's identity is redacted. Media outlets has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the Edinburgh conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as the president's key aides in the run up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 2017.

He has admitted he was producing a documentary about Epstein before his death and allegedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast recently, he stated: "We plan to release the film, the five-part series, in the coming year - at the start of next year."

But the newly released materials suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a personal assistant.

A few days before the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the most highly paid booking agent in history ".

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

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

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The released messages also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in 2018.

On the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this morning with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he added: "The guys are trying to move on. may soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as much as you can in the UK. Best-- so people see the commitment of your follow through."

Soon after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa may survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the guys here have no balls" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to take charge".

May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed the BBC: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the justice department should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who died in jail in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with powerful figures was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 documents from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.