Meghan Markle’s father Thomas arrested by FBI in child-abuse imagery case

Investigators describe recovered material

Essayli cited an affidavit saying FBI agents searched two storage units allegedly rented by Markle in the Los Angeles area. They recovered 78 items, including three images of Markle with underage girls, according to the affidavit.

The FBI said Markle was expected to appear later that day in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa. FBI Director Kash Patel said agents had located explicit material and arrested Markle in Florida.

Other investigations and denials

Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Jr., 60, reported his father to police in the Philippines and the FBI last month, handing over alleged images found in his father’s belongings in Cebu City. Philippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said more than 7,000 photos and one video were uncovered, and described Markle Jr. as a person of interest, not a suspect. A separate cache was reportedly found last week in a storage unit near Markle’s former home in Rosarito, Mexico, during a police raid. Markle, a retired television lighting and photography director, has admitted paying for sex in the Philippines but denied possessing child abuse imagery, calling his son’s accusations “sick lies.”

Meghan Markle and police scrutiny

Meghan Markle said last month that the allegations left her “deeply distressed.” She said her decision to remain estranged from her father and prevent contact with her children was intended to protect them, and expressed hope that justice would be served. The Duchess of Sussex said she received a letter seven years ago containing troubling allegations about her father. The Metropolitan Police acknowledged it did not share the details with other law enforcement agencies, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating; Buckingham Palace and the duchess declined to comment.