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

The event was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we are heading to the airport".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "U r an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on Wednesday alongside more than 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to establish his identity by matching the timeline, occurrences, and places referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "address at Oxford". Bannon participated in the Edinburgh conference on November 14, and gave the speech at the Oxford Union on November 16.

Bannon, who faces no allegations of any wrongdoing, declined to comment on the inquiry.

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

Bannon was one of the president's closest aides in the run up to the 2016 election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but stepped down from the administration in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a film about Epstein before his death and allegedly has around 15 hours of footage. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the series, the multi-part documentary, in the coming year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile at times seeming to act like a aide.

A few days prior to the exchange in which Epstein appeared to have booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein replied "Therapies. Not Included".

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

UK Politics Mentioned in Exchanges

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

Earlier on the day of his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I became involved in the EU exit issue this day with Nigel, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled British leader at the period, he continued: "The guys are trying to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "In my view staying as much as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Can Theresa May remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how BUT the people here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

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

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

The US House of Representatives will vote soon on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its probe into Epstein, who died in prison in that year.

Attention in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was reignited recently after the release of more than 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.