Influencer brothers Tate, charged with human trafficking in Romania, land in the U.S.

Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who face human trafficking charges in Romania, arrived in the U.S. on Thursday after travel restrictions were lifted. The brothers landed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, around midday.

The Tates, who hold dual U.S.-British citizenship, were arrested in late 2022 and formally charged with being part of a criminal group that lured women to Romania, where they were sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny these accusations.

In December, a court ruled the case couldn’t go to trial due to several legal errors made by prosecutors, though the case remains open. There is also another ongoing investigation in Romania against the brothers.

Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, confirmed Thursday that prosecutors had approved the lifting of the Tates’ travel restrictions, but did not specify who made the request. The brothers still must appear before authorities when required.

“The defendants have been warned that deliberately violating these obligations may result in stricter legal measures,” the statement said.

After arriving in Florida, state Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a “preliminary inquiry” into the brothers.

“Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable,” Uthmeier, who was appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, stated.

At the airport, Andrew Tate repeated their claim of innocence. “We live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty. I think my brother and I are largely misunderstood,” he said.

In other news, a court ruled in favor of the Tates’ appeal to lift the seizure of several assets, including luxury cars, land, properties, and company shares. All previously frozen bank accounts were unfrozen. Tate spokesperson Mateea Petrescu said this decision was a significant step toward justice.

Andrew Tate, 38, a former kickboxer with over 10 million followers on X, has repeatedly said that the prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy against him. He and Tristan Tate, 36, are known supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Just weeks ago, Andrew Tate posted on X: “The Tates will be free, Trump is the president. The good old days are back. And they will be better than ever. Hold on.”

The Tates’ departure came after Romania’s Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said that a Trump administration official showed interest in their case during the Munich Security Conference. However, the minister denied any pressure to lift the Tates’ travel restrictions.

When asked about this, Trump told reporters on Thursday in the Oval Office, “I just know nothing about it. We’ll check it out. We’ll let you know.”

The Bucharest Court of Appeal’s decision to stop the case from proceeding was a setback for DIICOT, but it didn’t mean the brothers were free to go, as the case is still open.

In August, DIICOT opened a second case against the brothers, investigating human trafficking, the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements, and money laundering. The Tates have denied these charges as well.

After their arrest in 2022, the Tates were held for three months in detention before being placed under house arrest. They were later restricted to Bucharest and nearby Ilfov County, and later, all of Romania. Andrew Tate was returned to house arrest last year for the second case, but that measure was lifted last month.

Their legal battles are not limited to Romania.

Four British women who accused Andrew Tate of sexual violence and abuse have filed lawsuits in the U.K. after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him. These women expressed their disbelief and re-traumatization after learning that the travel ban was lifted.

Matthew Jury, a lawyer representing the women, called the lifting of the travel ban “disgusting and dismaying.”

In March, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal for a separate case after U.K. authorities issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual assault from 2012 to 2015. The court granted the U.K.’s request for extradition but only after legal proceedings in Romania had concluded.

Late last year, a U.K. court ruled that police could seize over £2.6 million ($3.3 million) from the brothers to cover unpaid taxes and freeze some of their accounts. Andrew Tate called this “outright theft” and claimed it was a “coordinated attack on anyone who dares to challenge the system.”