‘We are largely misunderstood': Tate brothers speak after entering US following lifted travel ban

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Andrew and Tristan Tate, facing serious criminal charges in Romania, have returned to the US after their travel restrictions were lifted. They continue to face investigations for human trafficking and other offences. Florida officials have announced a preliminary inquiry regarding their presence.

Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrived in the United States on Thursday after Romanian authorities lifted their travel restrictions, allowing them to leave the country where they are facing serious criminal charges.

The siblings, who have millions of online followers, landed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, around midday after departing from Romania earlier that morning.

Travel ban lifted amid ongoing legal battles

The Tates, who hold dual US-British citizenship, were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges including human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and rape. The case was thrown into uncertainty in December when a court ruled that multiple legal and procedural errors prevented it from going to trial. While the charges remain active, and a second investigation against them is ongoing, Romanian prosecutors approved a request to ease their travel restrictions.

Tate brothers arrive in Florida after Romanian prosecutors agreed to let them leave | BBC News

Authorities did not disclose who made the request to lift the ban. However, their departure came just weeks after Romania’s foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu acknowledged that a Trump administration official had shown interest in their case at the Munich Security Conference. The minister denied that the US applied any pressure on the Romanian government following reports in The Financial Times that the meeting had sparked concern in Bucharest.

Florida says the Tate brothers are ‘not welcome’

Their arrival in Florida has already drawn attention from state officials. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his office would conduct a “preliminary inquiry” into the Tates, stating, “Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable.”

Governor Ron DeSantis was more direct, saying, “No, Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct.” He added that authorities were exploring what legal options they had regarding the Tates’ presence in the state.

JUST IN: Ron DeSantis Tells Tate Brothers, ‘Florida Is Not A Place Where You’re Welcome’

Andrew Tate: ‘Innocent Until Proven Guilty’

Speaking to reporters upon arrival, Andrew Tate insisted that he and his brother had done nothing wrong. “We live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “I think my brother and I are largely misunderstood. There’s a lot of opinions about us, things that go around about us on the internet.”

Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer and self-proclaimed misogynist, has built a massive following on social media, where he has frequently criticised governments, institutions, and what he calls the “matrix.” He and his brother are vocal supporters of former US President Donald Trump, with Andrew recently posting: “The Tates will be free, Trump is the president. The good old days are back. And they will be better than ever. Hold on.”

Asset seizures lifted

On the same day the brothers left Romania, a court ruled in their favour regarding the seizure of several assets, including six luxury cars, land, properties, and company shares. Their frozen bank accounts were also unfrozen, though some assets remain under precautionary seizure. A spokesperson for the Tates, Mateea Petrescu, called the ruling “a significant step toward justice.”

Charges in Romania and UK

Despite the lifted travel restrictions, the Tates’ legal troubles are far from over. Romanian prosecutors are still investigating them for human trafficking, trafficking of minors, money laundering, and other offences. The authorities have warned that violating their legal obligations could lead to stricter measures.

In addition to the Romanian case, the brothers face legal issues in the UK, where four women have accused Andrew Tate of sexual violence and physical abuse. The women, who are suing him, said in a joint statement they felt “in disbelief and re-traumatised” by the decision to let him leave Romania. Their lawyer, Matthew Jury, called the move “disgusting and dismaying.”

A UK court has also ruled that police can seize £2.6 million from the Tates to cover years of unpaid taxes, a move Andrew Tate called “outright theft” and part of a “coordinated attack on anyone who dares to challenge the system.”

Trump Says He Knows Nothing About Tate Brothers Returning To The U.S.

What’s next?

While Romanian authorities have allowed the brothers to leave, they are still required to appear before judicial authorities when summoned. Meanwhile, the UK has issued arrest warrants for them over allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015. A Romanian court has approved their extradition request, but only after legal proceedings in Romania are concluded.

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