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

The speech was disrupted by hundreds of demonstrators, and Bannon, who was due to board a flight that evening, told Jeffrey Epstein in an email: "Protesters delayed speech don't think I can make the flight we are heading to heathrow".

Epstein replied: "There. Is a gulf air that leaves at 9:50 with a layover in Bahrain". Bannon answered: "You are an excellent assistant".

These exchanges were released on Wednesday alongside over 20,000 documents from the estate of Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes.

The release by the Congressional committee includes an text conversation where Bannon's name is withheld. The BBC has been able to establish his involvement by cross-referencing the dates, occurrences, and places referenced.

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

Bannon, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, did not reply on the inquiry.

Epstein's Assurance to Bannon

Bannon served as 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 White House in August 2017.

He has acknowledged he was making a documentary about Epstein before his passing and reportedly has approximately 15 hours of recordings. In a recording of his podcast earlier this year, he said: "We plan to release the film, the multi-part documentary, next year - early next year."

But the newly released documents indicate Bannon's relationship with Epstein went further than documenting his life, with the convicted paedophile occasionally seeming to act like a personal assistant.

A few days prior to the conversation in which Epstein appeared to have arranged a charter jet for Bannon, Epstein remarked: "what's it like to have the most highly paid travel agent in the world ".

Bannon thanked him: "You are quite capable assistant", to which Epstein responded "Massages. Excluded".

Discussing a trip to "AD" in a separate text, Epstein assured Bannon: "I'll make sure you are well looked after."

British Affairs Mentioned in Messages

The published messages also reveal Bannon and Epstein discussing British political matters in 2018.

On the day of his address at the Oxford Union, Bannon messaged Epstein: "I've gotten pulled into the EU exit issue this morning 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: "They are trying to move on. May soon…"

Epstein advised Bannon: "In my view remaining as long as you can uk. Ideal- so others see the commitment of your follow-up."

Shortly after, Epstein inquired: "Will Theresa May survive". Bannon answered: "It seems unlikely BUT the guys over here have little courage" and added "Johnson ; Michael Gove; Jacob Rees-Mogg; Davis - somebody has to step up".

May was finally removed in 2019 after withstanding two votes of no confidence in December 2018.

A representative for the political party informed media: "Farage has not been in a gathering with Bannon, Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson." And there is nothing to suggest that encounter occurred.

The Congress will vote soon on whether the justice department should release all its files concerning its probe into Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.

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

A portion of those referenced the former president, who has repeatedly rejected any impropriety. The president was a acquaintance of Epstein's for a long time, but says they parted ways in the 2000s, two years prior to Epstein was first arrested.