Ghislaine Maxwell’s grand jury transcripts will not be released, a federal judge has ruled, saying the Trump administration’s request to do so is a “diversion”.

Paul Engelmayer, a Manhattan District Court judge, suggested the Department of Justice (DOJ) had requested the transcripts be released to create the “illusion” of transparency.

The judge said the files would not reveal any new information, adding that they “do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein’s or Maxwell’s”.

The decision will come as a blow to Donald Trump, who continues to grapple with the fallout after his administration closed the Epstein case.

The administration’s refusal to release information surrounding the paedophile financier prompted a backlash from some of Mr Trump’s most loyal supporters.