'COVERT TARGET'
US lawyers are "putting strategic pressure" on Prince Andrew to go to America to do a face-to-face interview as they think they might be able to charge him if he steps foot in the country, it has been suggested.
Media lawyer Mark Stephens said the feds have "got him down as a target" and are setting a "trap" to try and get him to the US.
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The Duke of York, 60, was bracing himself for the fall-out from his long-time friend Ghislaine Maxwell's arrest in the US yesterday.
Mr Stephens told ITV: "They are not treating him like any ordinary suspect or witness.
"It's a kind of trap that's been set for Prince Andrew because they know they can't extradite him to the US. What they're trying to do is get him over voluntarily and if they think they've got enough evidence, charge him there.
"The fact they are insisting on a face-to-face interview in America tells me that actually they think they might be able to charge him if they get him to America and he's not really a witness, he's a covert target of this operation.
"Of course he remains innocent but they aren't treating him like any ordinary witness."
His comments come as US lawyer Gloria Allred said Andrew was subjecting victims of Epstein to a "torture test" by not telling prosecutors what he knows.
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Ms Allred said Andrew is "avoiding and evading" US law authorities by not providing a statement after his friend Maxwell appeared in court accused of facilitating Epstein's sexual exploitation of underage girls.
British socialite Maxwell, 58, was arrested at a sprawling estate in Bradford, New Hampshire, yesterday over allegations she helped the disgraced financier, her former boyfriend, "identify, befriend and groom" girls, including one as young as 14.
Audrey Strauss, acting US attorney for the southern district of New York, said authorities would "welcome" a statement from the Duke in relation to the investigation.
But a source close to Andrew said: "The duke's team remains bewildered given that we have twice communicated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the last month and to date we have had no response."
Lawyers for some of Epstein's alleged victims today added pressure on the duke to speak about his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in prison last year while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.
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Ms Allred told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "The question is, Prince Andrew when is he going to tell what he knows?
"He needs to do that. He needs to do it without delay. It is so traumatising and difficult for the victims not to know the truth.
"And this kind of torture test that Prince Andrew is subjecting the victims to, like will he or won't he give a statement, if he will, when?
"More excuses, more delays, it really is painful for many of the victims. It's just not fair."
Spencer Coogan said his clients were "relieved" that Maxwell, daughter of late media mogul Robert Maxwell, had finally been arrested.
He urged Andrew to speak up about what he witnessed while visiting Epstein's properties in New York, Palm Beach and the Virgin Islands.
The Duke learned of Maxwell's arrest at the Royal Lodge in Windsor where he has been locked down with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson
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Mr Coogan told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I certainly think Prince Andrew has a story to tell. On behalf of the victims we have continuously asked him to step forward, step up, be a man and tell us what he knows.
"He has been hiding behind not only the royal family but his attorneys."
At a brief hearing yesterday, a magistrate judge ordered Maxwell to remain in custody while she is transferred to New York for a detention hearing.
Prosecutors said she was hiding at her 156-acre New Hampshire property, bought all in cash last December.
Maxwell faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
Ms Strauss claimed the socialite had helped Epstein to exploit underage girls and "in some cases" would participate in the abuse herself.
She said: "Maxwell was among Epstein's closest associates and helped him exploit girls who were as young as 14 years old.
"Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse."
Four of the six charges cover Maxwell's dealings with Epstein from 1994 to 1997, when she was in an "intimate relationship" with him, according to the indictment.
These include conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.
She is further charged with conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
According to the indictment, three unnamed minors were allegedly "induced and enticed" by Maxwell, who "facilitated" for them to be groomed by Esptein at properties he owned.
These include residences in New York City, Palm Beach in Florida and Santa Fe in New Mexico, as well as Maxwell's personal residence in London, prosecutors allege.
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The court papers claim that Maxwell "developed a rapport" with the alleged victims, before encouraging them to give massages to Epstein, which often resulted in him sexually abusing the girls.
One of the girls was allegedly groomed and abused in London between 1994 and 1995, with prosecutors claiming this included a period of time when Maxwell knew she was under the age of 18.
Authorities claim that Maxwell, who is also charged with two counts of perjury, lied when being questioned under oath in 2016.
She has previously denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of sexual misconduct by Epstein.
One of his alleged victims, Virginia Roberts, claims she had sex with the duke at the socialite's London townhouse in 2001.
A now infamous picture was taken in Maxwell's London home showing Andrew with his arm around Ms Roberts, then 17. She said they later had sex — which the Prince vehemently denies.
Andrew has suggested experts could have doctored the photo in which Maxwell is seen smiling in the background.
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Ms Roberts has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and alleges the duke had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.
Andrew categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Roberts, while his lawyers have insisted the duke has repeatedly offered to provide a witness statement to the investigation.
Prosecutors say Ghislaine Maxwell was still living a life of luxury when she was arrested on charge of sexually abusing minors