The US justice department has released more than 3m pages of documents related to its investigation into the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a long-awaited announcement that appears to represent the bulk of the so-called Epstein files that have dogged Donald Trump politically.

While an analysis is still under way, the release exposes previously unknown financial ties and social connections between Epstein and prominent figures in the US and UK – including some in the president’s orbit.

Less than two weeks before Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail, his lawyers and Manhattan federal prosecutors met and discussed his potential cooperation, several documents within a cache of newly released investigative files state.

“On July 29, 2019, FBI and [prosecutors] met with Epstein’s attorneys, who, in very general terms, discussed the possibility of a resolution of the case, and the possibility of the defendant’s cooperation,” an FBI document titled “Epstein Investigation Summary & Timeline” stated.

Another document titled “Jeffrey Epstein Significant Case Notification”, which was not attributed to a specific agency, closely resembled this FBI memo, and provided several more details.

“Defense Counsel did not make a specific proposal, and they did not indicate what the nature of Epstein’s cooperation might be, if any,” this document stated. “It was suggested that Defense Counsel contact SDNY if Epstein was prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct and/or they had a specific proposal for a resolution of this case.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was again engulfed by the Epstein scandal after newly released files included photos appearing to show him on his hands and knees crouching over what looks to be a female lying on the floor. The images, which do not show the female’s face, were among millions of documents released by the US justice department related to the late sex offender.

Epstein reportedly asked his publicist in 2011 for Sarah Ferguson to release a statement saying he was “not a pedo”, according to email exchanges that make reference to a person called “Fergie”. Other exchanges between Epstein and a person named only as “Sarah”, whose email address is redacted, appear to show “Sarah” thanking Epstein for “being the brother I have always wished for”.

Less than two weeks before Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail, his lawyers and Manhattan federal prosecutors met and discussed his potential cooperation, several documents within a cache of newly released investigative files state.

The files also shed new light on how Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s coconspirator, manipulated victims by being playful and treating them “like they were sisters”. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of recruiting and grooming vulnerable teenage girls to be sexually abused by her then-boyfriend Epstein between 1994 and 2004.

Epstein is also said to have sent thousands of pounds in bank transfers after his release from prison in 2009 to Peter Mandelson’s husband, according to emails released in the files. It raises fresh questions about Epstein’s relationship with Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington when details of his support for the disgraced financier emerged in September.

Emails in the files reportedly reveal the exchanges between Epstein and Elon Musk. They appear to show the pair messaging each other about potential plans for the world’s richest person to visit Epstein’s island. Musk said on X that he had “very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island.”

Keir Starmer has said Andrew Mounbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress about his links to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister, speaking to reporters, said: “In terms of testifying I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that.”

House judiciary committee Democrats have requested an “urgent” review of the unredacted Epstein files to evaluate compliance with federal law in a letter to the justice department. Representative Jamie Raskin cited the department’s claims to have identified over 6m pages but only about half of those have been made public.

Multiple lawyers representing Epstein’s victims have released statements following the release of the latest batch of Epstein files by the justice department, including Jennifer Freeman, lawyer for Maria Farmer. Freeman said: “This fight isn’t over – we won’t allow the federal government to simply dump a couple million documents and wash their hands of one of the largest law enforcement failures in US history.”