Tate brothers under investigation: Florida targets infamous influencers
Andrew and Tristan Tate, accused of human trafficking and rape among other things, returned to Florida from Romania last week, where—as highlighted by Governor Ron DeSantis—they are "not welcome." It turns out that state authorities have initiated a criminal investigation against the controversial influencers.
Recently, news spread in the media that the Tate brothers, who were arrested in 2022 in Romania, could return to Florida. This information was a massive surprise to many, as the influencers face accusations including human trafficking, rape, participation in an organized crime group (allegedly involving child trafficking), and exploiting women in pornographic films. The Tates firmly deny all accusations.
At the end of February, Andrew and Tristan Tate flew on a private jet to Florida. They landed in Fort Lauderdale, at an airport close to Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's resort. It was reported that the administration of the president pressured the Romanian authorities to allow the brothers to return to the US. Now, the controversial celebrities have to contend with new problems.
According to Interia, Florida's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has launched an investigation against the Tate brothers. He intends to determine the extent to which the state of Florida may have jurisdiction in connection with the charges brought against the brothers in Romania. Search warrants and subpoenas have already been issued as part of the investigation.
"These guys have publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world. This is an ongoing criminal investigation and we're going to use every tool we have to ensure that justice is served," Uthmeier explained in an interview published on social media.
The brothers’ lawyer, Joseph McBride, accuses Uthmeier of bias and politically motivated actions.
The help of a lawyer will certainly be beneficial for the controversial influencers. Besides having to continue fulfilling legal obligations in Romania (they are to return to Bucharest at the end of March), they will also face civil claims in the US, including a lawsuit from a woman who claims she was forced into sex work.
Before the investigation started, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized that the state does not welcome such individuals. He also mentioned that he became aware of the brothers' release through the media.
Right-wing influencer and misogynist
Andrew Tate is a highly controversial figure. He was once a kickboxer and later became an ostentatiously wealthy "influencer" known for his misogynistic views.
In 2016, Tate was removed from the British edition of "Big Brother" due to a video showing him attacking a woman. The celebrity publicly stated his belief that women are the property of men, and he posted numerous sexist, violent messages on social media (in 2022, his accounts were blocked by Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok). Despite this, Tate gained popularity online, especially among young men.
