Thomas Markle, estranged father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested by United States federal agents in Florida over allegations of possessing child sexual abuse material.
The 82-year-old was taken into custody on Friday, November 6, and charged with one count of possession of child pornography, according to the US Department of Justice.
Federal prosecutors allege that investigators recovered 78 items containing suspected illegal material from two storage units in the Los Angeles area, which Markle had reportedly rented since 2008.
He was expected to make his first court appearance in Tampa, Florida.
The arrest follows an investigation in the Philippines after Markle’s son, Thomas Markle Junior, reportedly raised concerns about suspected material discovered among his father’s belongings at a former residence in Cebu.
Philippine authorities had also commenced a separate investigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents moved quickly to identify and locate the material, while federal prosecutors described the allegations as extremely serious.
Meanwhile, Meghan had previously described the allegations as deeply distressing, expressing hope that justice would be served and that the safety of children would remain the priority.
If convicted, Thomas Markle could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
However, the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
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