The Romanian government recently released accused sex traffickers Andrew and Tristan Tate from judicially imposed home confinement and allowed them to fly to the United States. There were disturbing reports that President Donald Trump’s special presidential envoy Richard Grenell had met with Romanian authorities to request that the Tates’ home confinement be lifted and that they be allowed to travel to the U.S. With some fanfare, they landed in Florida nearly two weeks ago.
But now, the Tates may regret their travel to the U.S., as Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced a criminal investigation of them.
Based on public comments, some in Trump’s camp are Tate supporters and believe they have been unfairly treated. However, any sympathy or support for the Tates is misguided. To be sure, Andrew Tate is a major social media influencer with millions of followers online, and he endorsed Trump in the recent election. But it is a matter of public record that he is the subject of serious criminal allegations, including human trafficking, rape, and more.
Romanian prosecutors allege that Andrew, along with his brother and two associates, formed a criminal group to exploit women sexually. The indictment identifies seven victims who were reportedly recruited through false promises of love and marriage. These women were allegedly coerced into creating pornographic content for the Tate brothers’ profit.
Andrew is also charged with rape in Romania. Prosecutors have identified 35 alleged victims of the Tate brothers throughout an investigation, including two minors. Romanian prosecutors have alleged that the Tate brothers “groomed vulnerable people” by housing them and forcing them to produce pornographic material. Allegations include forcing a 17-year-old to produce pornographic content. Prosecutors argue that these actions demonstrate systematic exploitation.
The accusations against Andrew extend beyond Romania. British authorities issued arrest warrants for him and his brother over allegations of sexual violence between 2012 and 2015. Romania granted an extradition request from the United Kingdom’s government.
Naturally, Andrew denies all charges, claiming insufficient evidence and asserting that he is a victim of wild conspiracies orchestrated by powerful entities, which he calls “The Matrix.” He even filed a defamation lawsuit in Florida against two young female victims of his alleged trafficking activities after they testified against him in Romania, a clear case of witness intimidation. This follows on the heels of credible reports that the Tates are using social media to stir up their millions of online supporters to harass and troll these witnesses.
One of these witnesses is my client, Jane Doe, an American who filed a counterclaim against the Tate brothers to fight back against the relentless harassment she’s received merely for cooperating with Romanian authorities. The Tates’ lawyer stated in a podcast that their lawsuit would “go away” if Jane Doe recanted her testimony.
TRUMP SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM ANDREW TATE
Andrew is notorious for his extreme, misogynistic views of women. A quick search of his statements and videos on the internet will turn up shocking and disturbing content that conveys his belief that masculinity includes the desire to subjugate women, who, in turn, exist to serve men.
Andrew is not a role model anyone should look up to. He may well end up convicted under the many criminal charges lodged against him. But even if not, we should not embrace his views and behavior as they marginalize women in ways the most ardent Trump supporter would find disturbing. Conservatives should reject him.
Benjamin Bull is general counsel and senior vice president for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. Follow NCOSE on X @NCOSE.