Tate brothers back in Florida, face new legal hurdles
Andrew and Tristan Tate, accused of human trafficking and rape, returned to Florida from Romania last week, where—as emphasized by Governor Ron DeSantis—they "are not welcome." It turns out that state authorities have launched a criminal investigation against these 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 surprised many, given the accusations against the influencers, including human trafficking, rape, participation in an organized crime group supposedly 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, near Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump's resort. It was reportedly the president's administration that pressured Romanian authorities to allow the brothers to return to the US. Now, the controversial celebrities face new challenges.
According to Interia, Florida's attorney general, James Uthmeier, has launched an investigation into the Tate brothers. He intends to determine the extent of Florida's jurisdiction concerning 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.
Having a lawyer will undoubtedly be beneficial for the controversial influencers. Besides continuing legal obligations in Romania—they are to return to Bucharest at the end of March—they 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, Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized that "Florida is not a place where such individuals are welcome." He also mentioned that he learned about the brothers' release from the media.
Right-wing influencer and misogynist
Andrew Tate is a very controversial figure. Once a kickboxer, he 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 has publicly espoused beliefs that women are the property of men and posted many sexist and 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.
