Lord Mandelson appeared to call Jeffrey Epstein his “best pal” and shared a photo of himself speaking with the paedophile while dressed in a bathrobe, according to new files released by lawmakers.

Photos of the British ambassador to Washington – on what appears to be Epstein’s island – alongside a handwritten note, feature in a newly-released 50th birthday book compiled in 2003 by the late financier’s ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell who is serving a prison sentence for sex trafficking girls.

The existence of Lord Mandelson’s alleged letter and the birthday book was first reported in July by The Wall Street Journal, but has been seen in full for the first time after the US House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Epstein’s estate and published it on Monday night.

The 238 pages were released in full with some names and pictures redacted.

The letter, which stretches across 10 pages, features three photographs of Lord Mandelson, and describes Epstein as “mysterious”. It signs off with the words “we love you”.