Newsletters
Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and wife of Britain's Prince Harry, was arrested in Florida on Friday over allegations of possessing child sexual abuse material after FBI agents searched storage units near Los Angeles and seized approximately 78 items.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that Thomas Wayne Markle, a resident of Lakeland, Florida, faces one federal count of possession of child pornography.
According to U.S. media reports, Markle was seen in a wheelchair and handcuffs, surrounded by FBI agents during his arrest.
Federal investigators searched two storage units near Los Angeles that Markle had rented for nearly two decades.
During the searches, agents seized approximately 78 items, including photographic materials suspected of containing child sexual abuse imagery.
According to the Justice Department, the allegations involve sexually explicit photographs that appear to show Markle with underage girls.
The searches were carried out as part of a federal investigation into suspected possession of child sexual abuse material.
FBI Director Kash Patel said federal agents had worked alongside the Justice Department to identify and locate the suspected material before tracking down Markle in Florida.
Patel accused Markle of targeting vulnerable children and said investigators had moved quickly to carry out the arrest.
The case remains at the allegation stage, and Markle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
