It seems there have been some truly shocking revelations regarding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over the past few years. Many questions have surrounded their financial dealings and opaque business ventures since they stepped back from Royal duties, and now it appears those questions may have some answers - though the answers are sure to raise even more controversy.
According to exclusive new documents we've obtained, the US Internal Revenue Service has launched a formal investigation into Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's finances dating back to before they were married in 2018. The IRS alleges there are unexplained transactions and discrepancies in their tax returns during the times when Meghan previously had business dealings with a now-convicted US fugitive.
To start from the beginning - before marrying Harry, Meghan was of course best known for her acting career, starring in the popular TV drama Suits. But few knew about her past association with a man named Bradley Striker. Striker was a wealthy entrepreneur from California who made his fortune in pharmaceuticals and real estate. In 2011, Striker approached Meghan about investing in her acting career and becoming her business manager and adviser. At the time, Meghan was struggling to break into bigger roles, and saw this as an opportunity. Striker promised to help promote her and connect her with influential people in Hollywood.
Their partnership lasted roughly 3 years, with Striker handling Meghan's finances, taxes, and managing her portfolio of small business ventures. However, unbeknownst to Meghan, things were not as they seemed with Striker. In 2014, he was indicted by a Federal grand jury for tax evasion, money laundering, fraud, and racketeering. Prosecutors alleged Striker was the head of an interstate crime ring that engaged in pump-and-dump stock schemes, siphoning hundreds of millions from investors. Striker immediately fled the country before authorities could arrest him, and remained a wanted fugitive hiding out abroad for years. But in 2019, Striker was finally apprehended in Paris and extradited back to the US to face charges. During his highly publicized trial, explosive testimony emerged about Striker's shady business practices and associations with organized crime figures. He was ultimately convicted on all counts last year and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
This is where Meghan's involvement comes under the microscope. As Striker's former business partner and client, investigators are now closely examining their financial relationship between 2011 and 2014. They want to know if any of Striker's illegal activities may have implicated Meghan, or if she unknowingly profited from his crimes.
That brings us to the new IRS investigation launched just last month. According to documents we obtained from inside sources, the IRS probe is focused on discrepancies in tax filings and unverified income sources during the years Meghan worked with Striker. They want to determine if any unreported or suspicious transactions occurred that could constitute criminal tax evasion or money laundering. Of course, Meghan claims she had no knowledge of Striker's crimes when they worked together, but the timing is definitely questionable given his indictment came just months after their partnership ended. Coincidence? Not likely, according to tax experts we spoke with.
There also remains the possibility that some of Meghan's income during that time period originated from Striker's unlawful business activities - adding another layer of complexity. And compounding the issue is the strange lack of financial records from Meghan during this time. When IRS agents requested her tax documentation and business books, her lawyers reportedly said many documents were lost or unable to be retrieved. Not having proper paperwork to account for one's finances is a huge red flag for investigators, and certainly doesn't help dispel suspicions of wrongdoing.
Sources close to the IRS probe also shared that ongoing crypto transactions between overseas accounts tied to Meghan have attracted extra attention and scrutiny. This is especially notable since Meghan and Harry have vocally supported investing in cryptocurrency - an asset class that is not only highly volatile, but with unregulated exchanges, provides an easy way to hide or launder illicit funds.
All of this brings the question - what does Meghan have to hide about those few years, and could it potentially implicate Harry financially as well, now that they are married with shared business ventures? Keep in mind that at the time, Meghan was essentially an unknown actress, while Striker was moving in high-powered circles. Did she profit in ways from his connections that she hasn't fully disclosed?
