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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that night, told Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists slowed down speech I doubt I can make the plane we r enroute to heathrow".

Epstein responded: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 950 with a stop in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These messages were published on this week alongside over 20,000 pages from the records of Epstein, the deceased financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is redacted. Media outlets managed to establish his identity by matching the dates, events, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from Scotland for the redacted user in the chat, and commends their "Oxford speech". Bannon participated in the News Xchange conference on November 14, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the lead-up to the presidential election and in the early days of his presidency, but resigned from the White House in 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 recently, he said: "We're going to release the series, the five-part series, next year - at the start of next year."

But the recently disclosed materials suggest Bannon's connection with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have booked a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein said: "what's it like to have the highest-paid travel agent in history ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Not Included".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are taken care of."

UK Politics Discussed in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

Earlier on the same day his address at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this day with Farage, Johnson and Mogg."

Then, in what seems like a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he continued: "They are attempting to move on. May today / tomorrow…"

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

Soon after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon replied: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; David Davis - someone has to step up".

May was eventually removed in May 2019 after surviving multiple attempts of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Steve Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting took place.

The Congress will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its files related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in jail in 2019.

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

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