Romanian police on Wednesday searched the home of popular blogger and ex-kickboxer Andrew Tate as part of a new investigation into offences including human trafficking and money laundering, the influencer’s representatives said.
A self-proclaimed misogynist, Tate has won millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say belittles women.
In mid-2023, he, along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women, were charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, charges they denied. Tate’s representatives said in a statement on August 21:
Although the allegations in the search warrant are not yet fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering. The brothers’ legal team is present to ensure that all formalities are carried out correctly.
The Romanian Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism reported on August 21 that it had conducted four searches of houses in Ilfov County and Bucharest municipality.
The report said the investigation concerns “a criminal case on the commission of crimes related to the establishment of an organised criminal group, trafficking in minors, trafficking in human beings, sexual relations with minors, influencing testimony and money laundering.”
The Romanian appeals court overturned a previous ruling in July that allowed Tate to move freely within the European Union while awaiting trial on human trafficking charges.
