Thomas Markle Faces Psychiatric Exam as Judge Orders Assessment of Meghan Markle’s Father

Judge orders mental evaluation

Judge Lindsay Griffin directed Thomas Markle to undergo a psychiatric examination on Friday. She pointed to his health, advanced age and lack of recall, but gave no additional explanation.

Griffin said she saw reasonable cause to believe a mental condition might prevent Markle from understanding the proceedings or properly helping with his defense. The order concerns his ability to take part in the case.

Allegations span several locations

The Justice Department alleges Markle kept child sexual abuse material in two storage units in the Los Angeles area, which he rented for nearly two decades. The department said the material included explicit photographs of him with prepubescent girls.

Release conditions and responses

Markle was released on personal recognizance and ordered to remain under home detention with electronic monitoring. He cannot travel outside the Middle District of Florida or the Central District of California.

Meghan Markle said last month she was deeply distressed by the accusations. Thomas Markle was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying he had never downloaded anything of that kind.