Philippine Official Names Meghan Markle's Half-Brother a Person of Interest in Abuse Probe
Photo: The GuardianPhilippine Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said at a press conference in Manila on Thursday that Thomas Markle Jr., 60, half-brother of the Duchess of Sussex, is a person of interest in the child sexual abuse inquiry into their father, Thomas Markle Sr., 82, but is not being treated as a suspect. Remulla said signs point to the son's possible involvement and that witnesses reported underage girls being brought to his house, which police are following up. Markle Jr. had reported his father to police in Cebu and to the FBI after finding images among his father's belongings. Remulla said more than 7,000 images of minors were found and that the FBI is helping trace the devices, six of them phones from the U.S. Markle Sr., who returned to the U.S. in May, has denied the allegations, calling them sick lies, and is reportedly in a care home for dementia patients.
The right-leaning Daily Mail and New York Post lead with the widening of the case. The Mail's headline says police extended the inquiry to the brother as well as the father, and it adds a claim that the girls were relatives of Markle Jr.'s fiancee, with no suggestion she is involved, plus the searching of lock-ups. The Post uses the phrase child porn in its headline, calls the update shocking, and features Remulla saying accusing only the father is half the police work, his refusal to view the images, a figure of about 7,500 items, the FBI's role, and the Mail's earlier claim about a Mexico storage unit. The left-leaning Guardian also leads with the person-of-interest label but stresses he is not yet a suspect and that his alleged involvement is not thought to be directly linked to the material he handed over. It gives 7,000 photos and one video, with some children as young as 10 and 11, and Markle Sr.'s care-home move, and does not feature the fiancee claim in its opening. All agree on Remulla's statements. Newsweek adds a former federal prosecutor explaining the legal difference between suspect and person of interest.
How the sides differ Right sources stress shocking details and the widened inquiry; left sources stress the not-a-suspect status and care-home context; alternative sources add a legal expert.
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The Guardian leads with the person-of-interest label while stressing he is not a suspect, citing Remulla on image counts and ages, and noting Markle Sr.'s reported move into a dementia care home.
Newsweek reports Remulla's statement and adds Markle Sr.'s denial, plus a former federal prosecutor explaining the legal difference between a suspect and a person of interest.
- New York PostMeghan Markle’s half-brother a ‘person of interest’ in Thomas Markle Sr.’s child porn investigation
- Daily CallerREPORT: Meghan Markle’s Half-Brother, Thomas Markle Jr., Named As Person Of Interest In Father’s Child Porn Investigation
The Daily Mail and New York Post stress the widened inquiry, quoting Remulla on witnesses and girls at the house, with the Mail adding the fiancee's-relatives claim and the Post the FBI, phones and graphic descriptions.