Federal prosecutors moved on November 10, 2026, to revoke the pretrial release of Thomas Markle, the 82-year-old father of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, after he allegedly cut off his electronic ankle monitoring device.
Markle and his daughter are estranged. He had been arrested on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material, which was allegedly stored in California storage units, and the monitor removal occurred just days after that arrest, The Guardian reported.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli confirmed that Markle was in custody, according to The Guardian. He was awaiting a federal court hearing in Tampa, Florida, at the time of that confirmation.
NBC News and The Guardian both reported that the Department of Justice made the ankle monitor allegation on November 10, 2026, and that prosecutors have asked a judge to end his release and keep him detained pending trial.