ANDREW and Tristan Tate are “under criminal investigation” after the disgraced brothers fled to Florida from Romania.
Andrew, 38, and his younger brother Tristan, 36, jetted out of Bucharest just weeks after being freed from house arrest over trafficking allegations.
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Following a “thorough review of the evidence,” Florida’s attorney general, Jason Uthmeier, announced on Tuesday that a full criminal investigation was now underway.
Mr. Uthmeier had instructed his office to conduct a “preliminary inquiry” into the Tate brothers last week after their arrival.
He ordered the statewide prosecution office to issue subpoenas and execute search warrants related to the case.
“These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world,” Mr. Uthmeier told a press conference.
“Many of these victims coming forward, some of them minors, people can spin or defend however they want, but in Florida, this type of behaviour is viewed as atrocious. We’re not going to accept it.”
The attorney general added: “They chose to come here and set their feet down in this state, and we’re going to pursue every tool we have within our legal authority to hold them accountable.”
The self-proclaimed misogynists jetted out of Bucharest last week, taking off from Aurel Vlaicu International Airport in Baneasa at around 5.30am local time.
The pair, who hold dual UK-US nationality, arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, despite previously being under a Romanian travel ban.
Their sudden move comes after reports that the Trump administration had lobbied Romanian authorities to return the brothers’ passports, easing restrictions despite the ongoing investigation.
The Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) confirmed that the case against them remains active and that they must return to Bucharest later this year to comply with judicial control orders.
Their next court hearing is set for March.
British authorities are reportedly considering extraditing the brothers to the UK, where they face similar allegations.
A No. 10 spokesperson said the government was aware of their move but declined to comment on a potential extradition.
“This remains a live case, you wouldn’t expect us to comment on ongoing legal proceedings,” the spokesperson said.
“But more widely, the Prime Minister has been clear that human trafficking should be viewed as a global security threat, similar to terrorism.”
Several British women who have accused Andrew Tate of rape and human trafficking expressed outrage over the Romanian authorities’ decision to let him leave.
In a joint statement to MailOnline, four alleged victims said: “We are in disbelief and feel retraumatised by the news that the Romanian authorities have given into pressure from the Trump administration to allow Andrew Tate to travel around Europe and to the US.
“We can only hope that the British authorities finally take action and do something about this terrifying unfolding situation to ensure he faces justice in the UK.”
Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, made it clear the brothers were unwelcome in the state.
“Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct,” Mr. DeSantis told reporters.
“I don’t know how it came to this. We were not involved. We were not notified. I found out through the media.”
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