Florida Launches Criminal Investigation Into Tate Brothers

Florida’s attorney general has launched a criminal investigation into Andrew and Tristan Tate, just days after their return to the U.S.

Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed that his office is collaborating with law enforcement to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the brothers, who face human trafficking charges in Romania and arrived in Fort Lauderdale last Thursday.

Following their arrival, Governor Ron DeSantis stated that the Tate brothers were not welcome in Florida and directed the attorney general to assess whether the state has any jurisdiction over their alleged crimes.

On Tuesday, Uthmeier said: “Based on a thorough review of the evidence, I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas in the now-active criminal investigation into the Tate brothers.”

The Tate brothers, who hold both U.S. and British citizenship, were arrested in late 2022 and formally indicted in Romania last year on charges of operating a criminal ring that lured women to the country for sexual exploitation. Andrew Tate also faces a charge of rape. Both brothers deny the allegations.

Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer, is a controversial social media personality known for his misogynistic views and extravagant lifestyle, which has attracted millions of followers, including young men and schoolchildren. His 36-year-old brother, Tristan, shares his vocal support for former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Andrew Tate was previously banned from TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for hate speech and controversial remarks, including suggesting that women should bear responsibility for sexual assault.

The brothers left Romania after Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu revealed that a Trump administration official had expressed interest in their case during the recent Munich Security Conference.