WEALTHY pals of Jeffrey Epstein accused of sexual abuse in secret court papers face being unmasked during a legal battle involving Prince Andrew's accuser.

The news comes amid court moves to unseal secret documents from Virginia Roberts Giuffre's defamation case against alleged madam Ghislaine Maxwell.

5 Virginia Roberts Giuffre seen outside court in New York last August Credit: Reuters

It's now been revealed some of those identified in the bombshell paperwork face allegations they may have 'engaged in sexual acts' with victims, facilitated abuse or were victims themselves.

Although it's long been reported up to 1,000 people are named in the sealed documents this is the first tine it has been claimed among them are those involved in abuse.

Lawyers from both sides have now laid out plans on how to notify those named and give them a chance to try and stop their names being made public.

The proposed moves are revealed in new filings made to the federal courts in New York on Thursday, reports DailyMail.com.

Maxwell's attorney Ty Gee even provided the court with a proposed letter to send to the so-called non-parties involved in the case.

5 Ghislaine Maxwell has long denied the allegations against her Credit: Getty - Contributor

5 Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein seen together in New York in 2010

The non-parties are those 'whose privacy, reputational or other interests may be implicated by the unsealing of the Sealed Materials'.

They include those whose 'intimate, sexual or private conduct is described in the Sealed Materials' and those 'who are alleged to have been victimised'.

Some have also been identified as 'allegedly engaging in sexual acts' with Giuffre Roberts or other victims, or facilitating abuse.

It reads: 'This case involves allegations of sexual abuse and sexual trafficking of minors.

'Some documents submitted to the Court were filed under seal. You are receiving this Notice because your name appears in one or more sealed court documents in this case…'

The letter goes on to warn the individual that although currently their names are in documents under seal it 'may be unsealed in the future, which means it will be publicly available'.

5 The prince with Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was 17 Credit: Rex Features

5 Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan Credit: AP:Associated Press

Virginia Roberts has long claimed that Maxwell recruited her into Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring where she was passed on to other high-profile men including Prince Andrew.

The 2015 civil suit was first filed by Roberts Giuffre after Maxwell, who allegedly recruited underage girls for the financier, publicly denounced her as a liar.

Maxwell spoke out after Roberts Giuffre alleged she was pimped out to other powerful men including Prince Andrew.

The Duke of York has vehemently denied those claims and Maxwell has also denied her involvement.

Last year, another of Maxwell's lawyers said the documents include 29 depositions that could include “dozens,” if not “hundreds,” of names.

ADDRESS BOOK

He said that in attached documents there are “literally hundreds of pages of investigative reports that mention hundreds of people.”

He also pointed to a piece of evidence he called “an address book,” and said it probably includes 1,000 names.

Last week, Roberts Giuffre demanded the prince "do the right thing" and speak to FBI investigators about paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre tweeted a picture of The Sun's Wanted poster as she told the royal the clock was ticking and urged him to co-operate now.

She wrote: 'Tick Tock Andy- time to talk!! The world is over the lies, the cover ups and the simple fact that privilege buys your way out of facing the music.

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'Do the right thing, if not for me then the countless other Epstein victims who deserve the truth.'

Her plea came after US prosecutors insisted they had tried to contact the under-fire royal "several" times about the dead deviant.

They accused the Duke of York of "zero co-operation" with their investigation into Epstein.

But the 59-year-old's pals furiously then hit back saying the royal was "committed to the legal process" and was "more than happy to talk" but "hasn't been approached yet".