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Thomas Markle Sr., 82, the father of the Duchess of Sussex, has been arrested in Florida on suspicion of possessing material containing images of sexualized child abuse, three different sources told CBS News and then confirmed by the US Department of Justice.
Photos published by the Daily Mail and Sun newspapers allegedly show Markle handcuffed and sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by FBI officers.
The US Department of Justice said he was charged with one count of possession of child pornography.
“A man was arrested today in Florida and is the subject of a federal crime complaint. He is suspected of possessing material containing images of sexualized child abuse, including sexually explicit photographs of himself with pre-pubescent girls, the statement said. “The materials were located in two warehouses he rented in the Los Angeles area, which he operated for nearly two decades.”
Previously, Markle categorically denied all the accusations brought against him, and called allegations that he stored images of sexualized child abuse “a monstrous lie.”
Meghan's half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., was the first to report to the press that there was allegedly a cache of incriminating photographs in her father's house in the Philippines.
As he told the police, among the contents of the cache he found videos and photographs related to child abuse. He allegedly contacted the US Federal Bureau of Investigation about this in July.
The FBI subsequently confirmed that it was aware of these allegations.
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In October, Meghan Markle said she received a letter from authorities in early 2019 notifying her of “disturbing allegations.”
In a statement released last month after allegations against her father emerged, the Duchess of Sussex said: “I am deeply shocked by the information that has come to light over the last 24 hours and my first thoughts are with the children who may have been harmed.”
She added that she hopes to understand the reasons why she practically stopped communicating with her father.
The news is being updated.
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