Andrew and Tristan Tate to fight extradition to UK on rape and sex trafficking charges, lawyer tells Miami court
David Fisher
Lawyers for social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate will fight extradition to the UK, they told a US judge in Miami on Monday (US time) after the brothers were arrested to face rape and sex trafficking charges.
Tates appeared in federal court for the first time since their arrest on Saturday (Sunday AEST) and remains in federal custody. In the coming weeks, a U.S. district judge will consider whether the men meet extradition conditions.
The brothers, normally photographed in tailored suits and smart shirts, wore tan prison uniforms and handcuffs during the brief hearing.
The brothers’ attorney, Joseph McBride, called the accusations “filth and slander.” On Sunday, McBride said he was confident the extradition request would be denied.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis scheduled another hearing for next Monday.
Prosecutors in England said the new charges relate to four new alleged victims and were brought after authorities received evidence from Bedfordshire Police in southeast England. The allegations, which cover the years 2010 to 2017, include crimes related to rape, assault, human trafficking and “indecent images of children and extreme pornography”.
The brothers are currently accused of rape, bodily harm, human trafficking and control of gainful prostitution in relation to three other victims in the UK between 2012 and 2015.
His lawyers said Saturday that he believed the arrests were “green-lit by a low-level official” at the Justice Department without input from leadership.
However, the Justice Department told The Associated Press that the arrests were approved by Criminal Division leaders.
The new allegations are the latest in a long-running international legal saga involving the US, UK and Romania involving the Tates. The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
Their social media empires, which promote wealth, male domination and misogyny, have made them among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities.
US and British citizens moved to Romania in 2016. They were arrested there in 2022 and accused of participating in schemes that encouraged the sexual exploitation of women. They denied these allegations, and the Romanian case did not proceed due to legal and procedural issues.
Last year they were allowed to leave Romania and flew to Florida.
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