British authorities have authorised a total of 21 charges against online misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, including rape, assault and human trafficking.
On Wednesday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) released a statement revealing that the charges were first authorised in January 2024, summoning the release of the European Arrest Warrants which was issued by UK judicial authorities to bring the pair back from Romania — but the charges were not publicly verified by the service until this week.
Prosecutors confirmed that when the Tate brothers are returned to the UK, 38-year-old Andrew will face 10 charges including rape, assault causing actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. The charges are connected to accusations made by three women.
His brother Tristan 36, will face 11 charges, connected to allegations made from one victim, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking.
The CPS statement revealed that as a result of the European Arrest Warrants, “the Romanian courts ordered the extradition to the U.K. of Andrew and Tristan Tate. However, the domestic criminal matters in Romania must be settled first.”
“These charging decisions followed receipt of a file of evidence from Bedfordshire Police,” the prosecution service said in the statement.
The statement also said the British-American pair would be extradited to the UK after the conclusion of separate criminal proceedings in Romania, which the brothers are facing for charges which they have previously denied. Andrew Tate, a former kick-boxer and self-crowned “king of toxic masculinity,” as been accused of exploiting and abusing multiple women in Britain and Romania. Charges can only be lodged against suspects when they are physically present in Britain.
In April, Mateea Petrescu, a spokeswoman for Andrew Tate, said that her client denied any wrongdoing and would “defend himself vigorously,” and that he “remains confident the truth will prevail.”
“It is deeply troubling that such graphic and one-sided accounts are being publicised before any judicial assessment has taken place,” Petrescu said at the time.
On Wednesday, a lawyer representing the Tates told the New York Times, “These charges are old news. Nothing new has happened.”
The latest news adds to the legal slue surrounding Andrew Tate. In April 2024, four British women filed a separate civil suit against him in London’s High Court, seeking £100,000 (AUD$200,000) in damages.
The brothers were born in the US but relocated to the UK after their parents divorce. They were subsequently raised by their single mother in Luton, about 50 km north-west of London.
Both brothers have publicly declared their political allegiance to the Trump administration. In February, the pair flew by private jet to Florida after a Romanian court ruled they could leave the country. The decision sparked questions about whether the Trump administration played a role in their unexpected departure.
The pair returned to Romania in March, telling reporters that “innocent men don’t run from anything”. Andrew Tate was first arrested on 29 December 2022, accused of rape and human trafficking, after Romanian police said they’d identified six people who were allegedly “sexually exploited” by what they called an “organised criminal group”. Tristan was also arrested, suspected of human trafficking.
Both denied the charges and spent several months under house arrest.
In March 2024, they were separately detained in Bucharest after Bedfordshire Police said it had secured an arrest warrant in connection to allegations of rape and trafficking.
A few months later, the brothers faced new allegations in Romania including trafficking underage persons and sex with a minor. They have denied these allegations.
The UK charges stemmed from allegations of rape and human trafficking dating back to between 2012 and 2015, which the Tates “categorically reject[ed]” at the time and described themselves as “very innocent men”.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
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