Influencer boys Andrew and Tristan Tate, both accused of human smuggling in Romania, have been given a new visa, allowing them to enter the United States, according to authorities on Thursday.
The boys, who are two US residents and have a large online following, were given permission to leave Romania under unknown circumstances. They are strong supporters of President Donald Trump and their massive online next. According to the Associated Press, their precise destination in the United States is still unknown.
Who are the Tate Brothers?
Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer, has more than 10 million followers on X, where he frequently shares contentious thoughts. He describes himself as a misogynist and runs an online academy that aims to teach young men how to become wealthy and woo women.
Tristan Tate, 36 also a former kickboxer, maintains a strong online presence but is less publicly outspoken than his older brother.
In Bucharest, the Tate brothers and two Romanian women were detained in the late 2022.
What are they charged with in Romania?
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism ( DIICOT ) accused them of forming a criminal group in 2021 to engage in human trafficking in Romania, the United States, and Britain.
The four defendants were alleged to have organized a criminal organization in 2021 “in order to commit the crime of human trafficking” in Romania, the United States, and Britain.
A Bucharest court ruled in December that their case could not go to trial because of prosecutors ‘ procedural and legal irregularities, but they were formally indicted last year. A separate legal investigation into the brothers is also being conducted in Romania while the case is still unsolved.
Andrew Tate has repeatedly refuted the allegations, calling them a part of a political plot to silence him. Prosecutors, however, have charged the brothers with leading a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, among other offenses.
Why was the travel ban lifted?
Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, stated on Thursday that prosecutors had approved a request” to modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania”. However, the agency noted that judicial control measures remain in place.
Additionally, the restrictions state that the brothers must “appear before judicial authorities whenever summoned,” and DIICOT warned that any violation of these obligations could result in stricter legal action, including detention.
Emil Hurezeanu, the foreign minister of Romania, made the comments after it was revealed that a US official from the Trump administration had expressed interest in the Tate case at the most recent Munich Security Conference. Hurezeanu, however, denied that this amounted to political pressure, as per Associated Press reports.
What cases they have in Florida?
In addition, the Tate brothers are fighting a woman in Florida for defamation in the United States who claimed the Tate brothers imprisoned her in Romania.
A woman, identified as Jane Doe, requested an indefinite delay in the lawsuit until Romanian proceedings conclude, and a hearing was held on Thursday in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The legal team for Tates argued against any delay, claiming that the Romanian case is expected to take years to resolve. No immediate ruling was issued.
Additionally, the brothers filed a court motion asking for a temporary restraining order to stop Jane Doe from approaching them 500 feet away in fear of “imminent harm.” They also sought legal protection barring her from contacting, threatening, stalking, harming, or harassing them.
The Tates have requested that the restraining order be heard urgently and that a court date be set as soon as possible.
