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

The event was interrupted by hundreds of protesters, and Bannon, who was due to travel that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Activists delayed speech don't think I can make the flight we r enroute to heathrow".

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 together with over 20,000 documents from the records of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The disclosure by the House oversight committee contains an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC managed to confirm his involvement by matching the timeline, events, and locations mentioned.

For example, Epstein talks about arranging a plane from the UK for the unnamed individual in the messages, and offers praise their "Oxford speech". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and delivered the talk at the Oxford two days later.

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

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

Bannon served as the president's closest aides in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but stepped down from the White House in 2017.

He has acknowledged he was producing a documentary about Epstein prior to his death and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of footage. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We're going 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 disgraced financier occasionally appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time before the exchange 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 thanked him: "U r pretty good assistant", to which Epstein replied "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a visit to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you're well looked after."

British Affairs Discussed in Exchanges

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

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon texted Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit issue this day with Farage, Boris and Rees Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a reference to Theresa May, the struggling UK prime minister at the time, he added: "The guys are trying to proceed. may today / tomorrow…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "I think remaining as much as you can in the UK. Ideal- so others see the dedication of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein asked: "Can Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "I don't see how however the guys here have little courage" and noted "Boris ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - someone has to step up".

May was finally toppled in May 2019 after withstanding two votes of lack of support in late 2018.

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

The US House of Representatives will vote next week on whether the Department of Justice should make public all its records related to its investigation into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

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

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