Thomas Markle charged by FBI with possession of child sexual abuse material

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle Snr, has been charged by the FBI over alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. The 82-year-old was taken into custody by agents on Thursday (6 October) and appeared in court in Tampa, Florida, on Friday. He has previously denied all the allegations, describing them as “sick lies”. Markle Snr was released on bail following his court appearance on the condition that he be electronically monitored, according to a joint statement from the Justice Department and US Attorney’s Office Central California confirmed. He is also not permitted to travel outside the Middle District of Florida and the Central District of California. First assistant US attorney Bill Essayli said: “Mr Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs depicting himself with minor girls. These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr Markle to the fullest extent of federal law.” Markle Snr was reported to the FBI and police in the Philippines last month by his son, Thomas Markle Jnr, after he allegedly found illegal images in his father’s belongings in Cebu City. A second hoard was reportedly discovered last week in a storage unit that Markle Snr is said to have rented near his former home in Rosarito, Mexico, during a raid by police. Thomas Markle Jr, pictured, initially reported his father to police in the Philippines after allegedly discovering a collection of indecent images of children (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty) Markle Snr, who has been living in a dementia care home in the US, has admitted to paying for sex in the Philippines but has denied ever possessing child abuse imagery. Meghan, who moved back to the UK with Harry in August, said she was “deeply distressed” at the allegations about her father, from whom she has been estranged since 2018. She revealed that in 2019 she was sent a letter via the Metropolitan Police and Royalty and Specialist Protection which made “troubling and disturbing allegations” about her father, but that she was given assurances these were being investigated. The Met has admitted it never shared the details with other law enforcement agencies, with the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), now investigating the force’s conduct. Meghan had wanted to “speak out” immediately after reading the letter but police advised her against this, sources said. Patrick Grandy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, said: “This case highlights the importance of the involvement of the public, even if it’s a family member or close friend, to be vigilant and speak up if they have information on individuals they suspect may be preying on and exploiting our children.” Earlier this week, it was also revealed that the child abuse police inquiry into Markle Snr had been widened to include Meghan’s half-brother.  Jonvic Remulla, interior and local government secretary of the Philippines, told a press conference in Manila this week that Markle Jnr was now a “person of interest” in the case but is not being treated as a suspect. Remulla said there were “signs that the son is involved in the crime as well”, after a witness came forward to say underaged girls had been brought to Markle Jnr’s house. However, Markle Jnr said he was making TikTok videos with the girls.