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

The speech was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, scheduled to board a flight that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Protesters slowed down my talk I doubt I can catch the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an excellent helper".

These messages were released on this week together with over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein discusses chartering a jet from Scotland for the unnamed individual in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford Union on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as Trump's key advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his presidency, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

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

But the recently disclosed documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times seeming to act like a aide.

A short time before the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged 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 "Massages. 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 Messages

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

On the day of his speech at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning with Nigel, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a allusion to the UK prime minister, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein suggested Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can uk. Ideal- so people see the commitment of your follow-up."

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa may remain in power". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys over here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Rees Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

Theresa May was eventually toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for the political party told media: "Farage has never been in a meeting with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is no evidence such a meeting took place.

The US House of Representatives will decide soon on whether the Department of Justice should release all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in that year.

Interest in Epstein's relationships with influential individuals was reignited recently after the publication of more than 20,000 pages from his archives.

Some of those mentioned the former president, who has consistently denied any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for years, but claims they fell out in the 2000s, a couple of years prior to Epstein was first arrested.