Controversial Tate brothers face criminal probe in Florida
Andrew and Tristan Tate, accused among other things of human trafficking and rape, returned to Florida from Romania last week, where—as emphasised by Governor Ron DeSantis—they "are not welcome." It turns out that state authorities have launched 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 because the influencers are accused, among other things, of human trafficking, rape, participation in an organised crime group (allegedly involving, among other things, 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. The president's administration reportedly pressured the Romanian authorities to allow the brothers to return to the US. Now, the controversial celebrities have to face new problems.
According to Interia, Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, has launched an investigation into the Tate brothers. He intends to examine the extent to which the state may have jurisdiction over the charges brought against them 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 undoubtedly 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.
Even before the investigation began, the state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, emphasised that "Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct." He also added that he learned about the brothers' release from the media.
Right-wing influencer and misogynist
Andrew Tate is a very controversial figure. He was once a kickboxer, later becoming 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 emphasised his belief that women are the property of men, and he posted many 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.
