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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 board a flight that evening, informed Jeffrey Epstein in an message: "Activists delayed speech I doubt I can catch the flight we are heading to the airport".

Epstein responded: "That. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon replied: "U r an amazing helper".

These messages were released on this week 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 includes an iMessage chat where Bannon's name is redacted. The BBC has been able to confirm his identity by cross-referencing the timeline, occurrences, and locations referenced.

For instance, Epstein talks about arranging a jet from the UK for the redacted user in the messages, and offers praise their "address at Oxford". Bannon took part in the News Xchange conference on 14 November, and gave the talk at the Oxford on November 16.

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

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon was one of Trump's closest advisers in the run up to the presidential election and during the initial phase of his first administration, but resigned from the administration in August 2017.

He has admitted he was making a film about Epstein before his passing and allegedly has around 15 hours of recordings. In a live taping of his podcast earlier this year, he stated: "We plan to publish the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents suggest Bannon's relationship with Epstein extended than being his biographer, with the disgraced financier at times appearing to serve like a aide.

A short time prior to the conversation in which Epstein seemed to booked a private plane for Bannon, Epstein said: "how does it feel to have the highest-paid booking agent in the world ".

Bannon expressed gratitude: "You are quite capable asst", to which Epstein responded "Therapies. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "Abu Dhabi" in another message, Epstein assured Bannon: "I will ensure you are well looked after."

UK Politics Discussed in Exchanges

The published communications also show Bannon and Epstein talking about British political matters in that year.

On the same day his speech at the Oxford, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the Brexit thing this day with Farage, Boris and Mogg."

Then, in what appears to be a allusion to Theresa May, the embattled UK prime minister at the period, he continued: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"

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

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

May was finally removed in 2019 after surviving two votes of no confidence in late 2018.

A spokesman for Reform UK informed media: "Nigel Farage has not been in a meeting with Bannon, Jacob Rees Mogg and Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest such a meeting occurred.

The Congress will decide soon on whether the justice department should release all its records concerning its probe into Epstein, who passed away in prison in that year.

Interest in Epstein's associations with influential individuals was renewed this week after the publication of over 20,000 pages from his estate.

Some of those mentioned Trump, who has repeatedly rejected any wrongdoing. The leader was a friend of Epstein's for years, but says they parted ways in the early 2000s, two years before Epstein was initially charged.