Influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate were detained in Romania on a British arrest warrant and could be extradited later on, multiple outlets reported.
The brothers were detained Monday evening for up to 24 hours while the Bucharest Court of Appeal decided whether or not to execute the warrants, the Tates’ spokesperson Mateea Petrescu told the Independent.
The court decided Tuesday to grant the extradition request, but only after the Romanian legal proceedings are finished, according to the Associated Press. The court also ordered them to be released immediately.
The two brothers were indicted by Romanian officials in June 2023 on charges of rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women. They were released from house arrest in August 2023 while awaiting trial.
The brothers face allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015 in the UK, the AP reported.
Tate representatives deny allegations
Eugen Vidineac, Tate’s lawyer praised the Romanian court’s decision, and said it “provides an opportunity for the brothers to participate fully in their defense,” the AP reported.
The brothers are set to fight the U.K.’s allegations, Petrescu said in a statement provided to media before the court’s decision. “They categorically reject all charges and express profound disappointment that such serious allegations are being resurrected without substantial new evidence.”
A lawyer that represents the Tate brothers in the U.S. called the U.K. case a “trash fire” in a statement provided to USA TODAY.
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Tate may have been planning to flee Romania
Andrew Tate was accused of rape and physical abuse in the UK dating back to 2014, but officials declined to prosecute, leading victims to file civil case against him, according to a Crowdjustice campaign page.
McCue Jury & Partners, the law firm representing those accusers, said in a Tuesday release they urged British police to get an arrest warrant and extradite Andrew Tate to the UK.
They had received information that indicated Andrew Tate may have been planning to flee Romania, the release states.
“Today’s news is very welcome as it has been a significant concern to many that Tate would seek to avoid justice in Romania and abroad,” managing partner Matthew Jury said in the release.
Who is Andrew Tate?
Tate, 37, is a former professional kickboxer and social media personality who offers online courses to men and boys on masculinity. He has previously been banned from social media platforms for spreading misogynistic views.
He has nearly 9 million X followers and has resided in Romania since 2017.
Early Tuesday, he posted on X., “The Matrix is afraid, but I only fear God.” The “Matrix” refers to his conspiracy about wide-ranging targets against men.
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If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline for free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español at 800.656.HOPE (4673) andonline.RAINN.org yRAINN.org/es.
Contributing: Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
