Thomas Markle Re-arrested After Cutting Electronic Ankle Monitor
The US Department of Justice reports Thomas Markle was taken back into custody after removing his court-ordered ankle bracelet while awaiting trial in Florida.
POLICY WIRE — Tampa, Florida — The United States Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that Thomas Markle has been returned to custody following the removal of an electronic monitoring device from his ankle.
The 82-year-old, the estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was originally being held in anticipation of a federal court hearing in Tampa.
According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Markle removed the ankle bracelet at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday and was apprehended by authorities shortly thereafter.
Essayli noted on social media that just four days prior, a federal judge had permitted Markle to remain out of jail before his trial, under the condition that he wear a location tracking device.
The prosecutor emphasized that release conditions are mandatory court orders rather than suggestions, stating that the government is asking the court to revoke his release and detain him until the trial concludes, intending to pursue the case to its full legal extent.
Markle’s legal troubles began last Friday with an arrest on allegations of possessing child sexual abuse material within storage units located in California.
Essayli explained that the arrest followed the recovery of roughly 78 items, including books, film negatives, and slides suspected of containing child abuse imagery, from a storage facility in the Los Angeles area.
During his initial detention last week, Markle was transported via ambulance from a senior care facility in Lakeland. A judge later granted his release on the requirement that he be electronically monitored, typically via an ankle tether.
The court order also mandated a mental competency evaluation, with a follow-up report due by November 20.
Meghan Markle, an American citizen and actress known for her role in Suits, married Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 2018. They have two children, Archie and Lilibet.
The Duchess expressed deep distress over the allegations regarding the images found at her father’s property and revealed that a letter containing troubling claims was sent to authorities in London in 2019.
She stated she received assurances that those claims were being investigated and that her decision to distance herself from him and bar his contact with her children was solely for their protection.
Markle was residing in the Philippines earlier this year when he suffered a stroke that necessitated the amputation of his left leg, prompting his return to the United States. The investigation was sparked by reports that Meghan’s half-brother discovered the collection of images while clearing out their father’s home, which led to the discovery of two California storage units Markle had rented since 2008.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)