Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami after British authorities requested their extradition on charges including rape and human trafficking, according to the US Marshals Service.
The brothers were taken into custody on Saturday under a sealed warrant, placing the United States at the center of an international legal case involving investigations in both Romania and the United Kingdom.
British prosecutors confirmed they are seeking the extradition of the Tate brothers over allegations that they raped and trafficked women between 2010 and 2017.
UK seeks extradition
The Tate brothers, who hold both US and British citizenship, moved to Romania in 2016.
Romanian authorities arrested them in 2022 as part of an investigation into alleged human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The brothers denied the accusations, and the case stalled because of legal and procedural issues.
Last year, Romanian authorities allowed them to leave the country, and they later traveled to Florida on a private jet.
The brothers are expected to appear in federal court in Miami next week.
Lawyers reject allegations
Attorney Joseph McBride, who represents the Tate brothers, criticized the UK’s case and described the new charges as an attempt to undermine ongoing legal actions filed by his clients in the United States.
He said the brothers are confident they will ultimately be cleared and argued that US authorities should not enforce what he described as politically motivated allegations.
The Tate brothers have consistently denied all accusations of abuse, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
British prosecutors said they have filed a total of 38 new charges involving four additional alleged victims.
Both Andrew and Tristan Tate face accusations of rape and human trafficking.
Andrew Tate also faces charges related to profiting from prostitution, indecent images of a child and extreme pornography, according to UK authorities.
Controversial online figures
Andrew Tate first gained public attention in 2016 as a contestant on the UK reality television show Big Brother. He was removed from the program after a video surfaced appearing to show him assaulting a woman.
He later built a large online following by promoting content focused on wealth, masculinity and relationships. While he has more than 10 million followers on X, he has been banned from platforms including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram for violating hate speech policies.
Authorities in the UK said they remain committed to pursuing cases involving violence against women and supporting victims throughout the legal process.
