PRINCE Andrew’s lawyers were locked in emergency talks last night amid fears his pal Ghislaine Maxwell could “name names” following her guilty verdict, a report says.
Maxwell now faces up to 65 years in prison after a New York court found she procured, groomed and trafficked young girls for her ex-lover Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision comes as Epstein survivor Virginia Roberts Guiffre has launched a civil case against the Duke of York – who she alleges had sex with her when she was a teenage sex slave.
Andrew strongly denies the claims and all allegations of misconduct made against him.
The jury’s verdict to convict Maxwell has sparked alarm in the Prince’s legal team because the burden of proof in a criminal case is far higher than in a civil case, the Mirror reports.
Legal experts reportedly point to OJ Simpson who was acquitted in criminal court but was found guilty of double murder in a civll case.
Meanwhile, it has been claimed Maxwell could start “naming names” in a bid to cut her lengthy prison sentence.
The socialite, 60, and Andrew, 61, are believed to have known each other for the better part of two decades and she is alleged to have introduced him to Jeffrey Epstein.
She and the paedophile are believed to have been dating at the time – and the Duke is believed to have subsequently struck up a friendship with Epstein.
A legal source connected with Maxwell’s case told The Mail on Sunday a guilty verdict in the case could spell trouble for the royal.
“This could be bad news for Prince Andrew and other high-profile men who hung out with Ghislaine and Jeffrey Epstein,” the source said.
“It is possible she will begin to co-operate and tell what she knows in an attempt to lessen her jail term.
“We know that prosecutors are looking at other co-conspirators in connection with Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex ring.
“Ghislaine undoubtedly possesses information which could assist prosecutors in other cases. If she decides to co-operate, her testimony could be devastating.
“She was Epstein’s right-hand woman for years, imagine what she knows?”
Maxwell was found not guilty of enticing a minor to engage in an illegal sex act – one of six charges against her.
Andrew’s friendship with Maxwell is reported to have become more prominent in the early noughties.
Former royal protection officer Paul Page has now told Vanity Fair during that time Maxwell was able to “just breeze into the Palace like she was one of the royal family”.
The Duke of York was first spotted with her and Epstein at a tennis tournament at Donald Trump’s resort Mar-a-Lago in February 2000.
It was reported the duo were together at least eight times in the year 2000 – and were seen a various nightspots in London.
Andrew, Epstein, and Maxwell – along with Donald and his then girlfriend Melania – were pictured together in one striking image at Mar-a-Lago in December 2000.
And during this period, Epstein and Ghislaine are said to have introduced the royal to the then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.
Now aged 38, she is suing Andrew alleging he sexually assaulted her in New York, London and Epstein’s island.
He has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and strongly refuted the allegations made in the lawsuit.
Epstein hanged himself in prison in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking offences.
There is no suggestion that Trump knew of any wrongdoing.
