Florida attorney general opens criminal investigation into Andrew Tate and brother

The attorney general of Florida has opened a criminal investigation of Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan after the pair were able to fly into the state last week despite facing trial in Romania on charges of rape, sex with a minor, people trafficking and money laundering.

James Uthmeier, appointed to be the state attorney general by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, said on Tuesday he had begun an “active criminal investigation” of the brothers and was prepared to use the “full force of law” in his examination of their conduct.

“These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world,” Uthmeier said. He added: “Many of these victims are coming forward, some of them minors. People can spin or defend however they want, but in Florida, this type of behavior is viewed as atrocious. We’re not going to accept it.”

Self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother arrived in Fort Lauderdale last week after flying from Bucharest to the US in a private jet, as prosecutors suspended their travel ban and a court lifted a precautionary seizure on some of their assets.

The pair, who are dual US-UK citizens, were arrested in Romania in 2022 and still face trial there. As they arrived in Florida last week, Uthmeier said: “Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable.”

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On Tuesday, Uthmeier said that they had chosen to come to Florida and he would “pursue every tool we have within our legal authority to hold them accountable” and had that day secured and executed subpoenas and warrants as part of “an active criminal investigation”.

DeSantis last week criticized the brothers. But the Tate brothers are outspoken supporters of Donald Trump and several members of the US president’s inner circle have spoken out publicly against their treatment in Europe, including Donald Trump Jr, who described their detention as “absolute insanity”.

Trump aide Elon Musk responded to a suggestion from Andrew Tate that he would “run for prime minister of the UK” by saying “he’s not wrong.” Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer for Tate’s, is the White House liaison official for the US Department of Justice.

Last week Andrew Tate said: “We’ve no criminal record anywhere on the planet ever.”