Right-wing influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have arrived in the United States after leaving Romania where they face charges of rape, trafficking minors and money laundering.
The brothers had left on a private jet bound for Florida after their travel restrictions were lifted and their passports returned.
They had been banned from leaving Romania after their 2022 arrest – leading to questions over why they have now been allowed to travel and what happens next with their legal cases.
Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36 – who hold both US and UK citizenship – are required to return to Romania at the end of March to face legal proceedings. They deny all the allegations against them.
A Romanian court also ruled in favour of an appeal from the brothers on Thursday, lifting a precautionary seizure of multiple assets and restoring ownership of properties, vehicles, and bank accounts.
The sudden update to their cases in Romania was preceded by an alleged diplomatic effort on behalf of Donald Trump’s White House – with many questioning why the US President would get involved.
Romanian authorities lifted the travel restrictions on the two brothers amid reported pressure from the US, although Bucharest denies it acted under such influence.
Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that officials from the Trump administration had urged Romanian authorities to lift the restrictions.
An initial phone call was reportedly followed by a conversation between Richard Grenell, presidential envoy for special US missions, and Romania’s foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, the FT reported.
Hurezeanu has confirmed the conversation took place but denies he was under pressure from the US.
Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also commented on the case, saying in a post on social media earlier this month that “the US has not made any requests to Romania upon the legal situation of well known foreign influencers investigated by the Romanian authorities”.
He added that “there were no demands” during or after the meeting between Grenell and Hurezeanu in Munich, and that “Romania and USA share the same values regarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.”
However, there are other ties to the White House. One of Tate’s lawyers is now a liaison to the US Justice Department, BBC News reports. Paul Ingrassia was part of a team representing the Tate brothers in a defamation lawsuit they filed against several of their alleged victims, and acted as Andrew Tate’s publicist.
He has praised Tate in several online posts, including one from July 2023 when he called Tate “an extraordinary human being” who was offering “a dying West some hope for renewal”.
As part of a separate investigation, the Tate brothers are wanted by police in the UK over allegations of rape, human trafficking and tax evasion. They deny those allegations.
Their possible extradition to the UK will be handled once the case in Romania is resolved.
The Tate brothers are likely to frame their departure from Romania and arrival in the US as a big victory, following more than two years of criminal proceedings, commentators have pointed out.
The lawyer representing four women who allege they were sexually abused by Andrew Tate called the decision by Romanian authorities to lift travel restrictions “equal parts disgusting and dismaying”.
In a statement posted on social media, lawyer Matthew Jury said there was “clear evidence to support the allegations against Tate that he is one of the world’s worst human traffickers and serial rapists.
“That the US Government would choose to lobby for his release is absurd but sadly, given its actions over the past month, perhaps unsurprising.
Jury said added that “any suggestion that the Tates will now face justice in Romania is fanciful”.
He called on British authorities to take “immediate steps” to secure the Tate brothers’ extradition to the UK to face charges for offences they are alleged to have committed in the country.
“Romania has embarrassed itself. The UK must not do the same,” he said.
The lawyer suggested Keir Starmer and his team “may take the opportunity to raise the issue” with Trump during meetings in Washington on Thursday, “on behalf of the many British women who Tate is alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted who may now be denied justice”.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the lifting of travel restrictions for the Tate brothers “should never have been allowed to happen”.
He added: “The US now needs to step up. We have an extradition treaty with them and they need to cooperate fully. The Tate brothers stand accused of rape and human trafficking in the UK and must face our justice system.”
The Tate brothers boast a substantial social media following, particularly on right-wing platforms, and were vocal supporters of Trump during his election campaign.
They have a significant following in the US and have become popular figures within the American right circles. They have also claimed that they have made millions through social media.
Andrew Tate, a self-described misogynist, was eventually banned from social media platforms for expressing those views.
However, Trump ally and X owner Elon Musk reinstated his account in 2022, as well as the account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, notorious for falsely claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was staged, and whom Tate has called a “hero”.
Musk and Tate have also expressed support for British comedian Russell Brand, who also faces sexual assault claims in the UK, which he denies. “Welcome to the club,” Tate tweeted, tagging Brand’s account.
A former kickboxer, Tate was based in the UK before relocating to Romania, where he has lived for several years.
Lawyer Matthew Jury representing four alleged victims said the reported actions by the US could be seen as “gaslighting of a sort”.
He added: “To see the most powerful man in the world [Trump] support their alleged abuser, is incredibly traumatising… it’s gaslighting of a sort. Either they don’t know or they don’t care about the nature of the allegations and how serious they are.”
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