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Thomas Markle, father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was arrested Friday in Florida on federal charges related to alleged possession of child sexual abuse material, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors allege investigators found suspected material in two Los Angeles-area storage units; Markle has not entered a plea, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who leads the Los Angeles-based U.S. Attorney’s Office, said Markle is accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, including photographs that allegedly depict him with minors. The Justice Department said the 82-year-old had rented two storage units in the Los Angeles area for nearly two decades and allegedly kept sexually explicit photographs there.
Federal agents seized about 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books that the department said contained suspected child sexual abuse material. According to the DOJ, two images show a man whom a witness identified as Markle with a nude prepubescent girl. Investigators also described an image of a nude girl in a room that appeared to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines. These descriptions are prosecutors’ allegations, not findings established at trial.
Markle was expected to make an initial federal court appearance Friday, according to the DOJ. He had not entered a plea at the time of the report. The department said conviction could carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. CNN said it was working to determine whether he had legal representation.
Federal Case Follows Earlier Reports
The arrest moves allegations that had been reported in Britain and investigated in the Philippines into a U.S. federal criminal case. The Justice Department’s account identifies evidence allegedly recovered in California, while the arrest took place in Florida. Court proceedings will provide a formal setting for the charges and for Markle to respond.
The case also involves a high-profile family, but Meghan’s connection to Markle does not establish anything about the allegations. A spokesperson for the duchess told CNN the family had no comment at this time. The central questions are the evidence’s provenance and what prosecutors can prove in court.
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Reports Preceded the Arrest
The arrest follows public allegations made in October. Thomas Markle Jr. told Britain’s The Sun that he found indecent images of underage children in storage boxes and on computer hard drives at his father’s home in the Philippines and reported the discovery to authorities there. The Philippine Justice Department’s child abuse unit told CNN the matter was under investigation.
In October, the FBI told CNN it was aware of the allegations involving Markle, a U.S. citizen, and would support Philippine authorities as appropriate. The bureau also said it would investigate any related alleged violations of U.S. law. The Justice Department’s announcement Friday now describes a federal arrest and evidence seized from two storage units near Los Angeles.
Markle denied the allegations in an interview with the Daily Mail. He said the computer equipment had not been in his possession since he left Mexico with his son in 2025. He also told the paper: “I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me.” His denial is part of the public record; the charges themselves remain unproven.
““I’m shocked, I’m hurt and I’m very upset that my son is making these accusations against me.””
— Thomas Markle, speaking to the Daily Mail
Evidence and Plea Still Pending
Markle’s plea, the specific federal charges in court filings, and the details of any initial appearance were not available in the source report. The DOJ’s account describes what investigators say they seized and what some images allegedly show; those claims have not been adjudicated. It is not clear whether Markle has retained a lawyer or how he will respond in court.
The relationship between the reported discovery in the Philippines and the materials allegedly found in California storage units also remains unclear. The Philippine investigation’s status after the U.S. arrest was not specified. No information was provided about other potential defendants or whether additional charges may follow.
Initial Court Appearance Ahead
Markle was expected to appear in federal court Friday, where the court process should clarify the charges, representation and next procedural steps. The DOJ said the case could carry a maximum 20-year sentence if he is convicted; that is the statutory maximum stated by prosecutors, not a prediction of an outcome.
Further updates are expected from court filings and official statements. Until evidence is presented and tested through the legal process, the allegations should be treated as unproven. The status of the separate Philippine inquiry may also become clearer as authorities provide further information.
Key Questions
What was Thomas Markle arrested for?
The Justice Department says he was arrested on federal charges related to alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. The allegations have not been proven in court.
What do prosecutors say investigators found?
The DOJ says agents seized about 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books, from two Los Angeles-area storage units. It described images that allegedly depict Markle with minors.
Has Markle entered a plea?
No plea had been entered at the time of the report. He was expected to make an initial federal court appearance Friday.
What sentence could he face if convicted?
The Justice Department said the charges carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison if he is convicted. The source report did not provide a court finding or sentencing outcome.
Has Meghan commented on the arrest?
A spokesperson for Meghan told CNN the family had no comment at this time. Meghan is estranged from her father, according to the report.
Source: cnn.com
