Social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan arrive in Florida following the lifting of a travel ban amid ongoing legal troubles.
Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate landed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Thursday after a travel ban imposed during a human trafficking investigation in Romania was lifted.
The brothers flew from Bucharest to Florida on the same day they were allowed to travel.
The lifting of the travel restrictions reportedly followed interventions from the Trump administration earlier this month.
Upon their arrival, Andrew Tate spoke to reporters, asserting their innocence and describing themselves as "largely misunderstood".
He emphasized the principle of being "innocent until proven guilty" in a democratic society and claimed that they have never been convicted of any crime, stating, "We have no criminal record anywhere on the planet, ever."
Tate claimed that his legal case in Romania was dismissed in December 2022 and noted that Romanian prosecutors had recently decided to allow the brothers to return, having no active indictment against them.
He criticized media narratives surrounding their situation and referred to perceived attempts to damage their reputations, alleging involvement from organizations he associates with George Soros.
A spokesperson for the Tates confirmed that Romanian authorities had returned several assets to them, including five properties, six vehicles—such as two Audis, a Nissan, a
Mercedes-Benz, and a Ferrari—bank accounts, and shares in companies.
Nonetheless, some assets remain under precautionary seizure.
In response to the brothers' return to the U.S., former President
Donald Trump stated he was not aware of their arrival or the alleged pressure from his administration on the Romanian government regarding the travel ban.
U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commented on the matter, indicating the importance of justice in light of the allegations and acknowledging their international implications.
Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, confirmed that prosecutors approved modifications to the defendants' obligations, allowing them to leave Romania while warning that violating any conditions could result in stricter measures.
Four women in the U.K. who have accused Andrew Tate of rape and coercive control expressed distress over the news of the brothers’ travel, stating they felt "retraumatized." They urged British authorities to take action to ensure that Tate faces justice regarding the allegations against him.
The Tate brothers were initially arrested in December 2022 amid allegations that included trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with minors, and money laundering.
A separate case accusing them of human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women has been returned to prosecutors in Romania.
Additionally, Bedfordshire Police in the U.K. have secured a European arrest warrant related to separate allegations of rape and human trafficking from the years 2012-2015, which the brothers consistently deny.