Meghan Markle’s ‘sincerest hope’ is that the ongoing FBI investigation into her father ‘delivers justice for the victims’, according to reports.
The Duchess of Sussex’s comments came after Thomas Markle Snr, 82, appeared in court yesterday charged with possessing child abuse images.
The retired Hollywood lighting director had to be wheeled into the Florida courthouse after a blood clot led to one of his legs being amputated in December.
He has since been released on conditional bail which includes being subject to home detention and electronic monitoring.
Markle Snr previously strongly denied the allegations and labelled them ‘sick lies’.
As her father appeared in court, a close friend of the Duchess told The Sun: ‘It is her sincerest hope that a full and thorough investigation will now help deliver justice for the victims.’
The duchess previously said she was ‘deeply distressed’ by the allegations and her ‘thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed’.
Meghan has been estranged from her father since she married Prince Harry 2018.
Ahead of Markle Snr’s court appearance, more details about the allegations against him were released.
In a US Department of Justice release, First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said: ‘These allegations are extremely serious, and we will prosecute Mr Markle to the fullest extent of federal law.’
The release said that Markle Snr ‘kept child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including sexually explicit photographs of himself with prepubescent girls’.
These were discovered after FBI agents searched two Los Angeles storage units rented by Markle Snr since 2008.
Inside they ‘seized approximately 78 items, including slides, film negatives, and books that contained suspected CSAM’, the release said.
Among the stash were 35mm film negatives, two of which allegedly showed Markle Snr with a nude prepubescent girl.
A third image depicted a nude prepubescent girl in a room that appeared to be part of a motel chain in the Philippines, the statement said.
Other images also appeared to show Markle Snr with children in various stages of undress, according to the statement.
The court appearance came a fortnight after he was reported by his own son, Thomas Markle Jnr, in the Philippines.
The 60-year-old went to the authorities after he claimed he found indecent images of children in the property.
If convicted, Markle Snr faces up to 20 years in prison.
has reached out to the Duchess of Sussex for comment.
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