The US Justice Department on Friday made public its largest release yet of records linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, disclosing millions of pages and thousands of videos and images under a law aimed at revealing what authorities knew about his sexual abuse of underage girls and his ties to influential figures.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents, along with over 2,000 videos and about 180,000 images. The material was posted on the department’s website and includes records that were withheld from an initial disclosure in December.

The newly released files contain references to several high-profile individuals connected to Epstein, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, as well as email exchanges between Epstein and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and other prominent figures from across the political spectrum.

The disclosures were made under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed after sustained public and political pressure to open government files related to Epstein and his longtime associate and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Lawmakers criticised the Justice Department after a limited release last month, but officials said additional time was needed to review newly uncovered records and ensure sensitive information about victims was protected.

Friday’s release marks the most extensive document dump so far in a case that has continued to shadow the Trump administration because of President Donald Trump’s past association with Epstein. Blanche acknowledged that the volume of material may still not satisfy those seeking a full accounting.

“There’s a hunger, or a thirst, for information that I don’t think will be satisfied by the review of these documents,” he said.

The Justice Department missed a congressional deadline of Dec 19 to release all files and later said hundreds of lawyers were assigned to review records for necessary redactions. Officials denied any attempt to shield Trump, who has said he severed ties with Epstein years ago, from embarrassment.

The documents include thousands of references to Trump, such as emails sharing news articles about him, commenting on his policies or politics, or discussing his family. Also included is a spreadsheet compiled last August summarising calls to an FBI threat hotline from individuals making unverified claims of wrongdoing by Trump.

Prince Andrew’s name appears hundreds of times in the records, including in news clippings, Epstein’s private emails and guest lists for dinners hosted by Epstein. Some documents show New York prosecutors attempted to secure an interview with the former prince during their sex trafficking investigation.

The records also indicate that Musk contacted Epstein on at least two occasions to discuss potential visits to Epstein’s private Caribbean island, where many abuse allegations are said to have occurred. It remains unclear whether such visits took place. Musk has previously said he refused Epstein’s invitations.

Other prominent names appearing in the files include New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch, conservative activist and former White House strategist Steve Bannon, and Howard Lutnick, now serving as Trump’s commerce secretary. Statements from those individuals or their representatives said any associations with Epstein were limited and involved no wrongdoing.

The documents also reference former Obama White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, who later expressed regret over having known Epstein in a professional capacity.

The latest release builds on tens of thousands of pages made public last month, which included previously disclosed flight logs and photographs involving Epstein’s associates. None of Epstein’s publicly identified victims have accused Trump or former President Bill Clinton of wrongdoing. Both have said they were unaware of Epstein’s abuse of underage girls.

Epstein died in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after he was charged federally with sex trafficking. Earlier, he had served jail time in Florida after pleading guilty to state charges involving a minor, under a deal that spared him from federal prosecution at the time.

Documents released Friday also include a draft indictment from that period showing prosecutors considered charging not only Epstein but also three personal assistants suspected of helping recruit underage girls.

In 2021, Maxwell was convicted in New York of sex trafficking for her role in recruiting underage victims and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. No other individuals have been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s abuse.

One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, had alleged in lawsuits that Epstein arranged sexual encounters for her with powerful men when she was a teenager. Those accused denied the claims. Giuffre died last year at the age of 41.