A court in Romania’s capital has ruled that a trial can proceed in the case of influencer Andrew Tate, who is facing charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. Tate, along with his brother Tristan Tate and two Romanian women, were arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest. The Bucharest Tribunal found that the prosecutors’ case file met the legal criteria, but did not set a date for the trial to begin. Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, confirmed that the ruling has been appealed. The Tates have denied the allegations against them, with their lawyers claiming that the ruling lacks legal basis and reasoning.
The legal case against Andrew Tate has been discussed for months in the preliminary chamber stages, where the defendants can challenge the prosecutors’ evidence and case file. The Tates’ lawyers have expressed confidence in the arguments they presented during the preliminary hearing and believe that the appeal court judge panel will support them. Andrew Tate, who has a large following on social media platforms, has maintained his innocence and accused prosecutors of a political conspiracy to silence him. He has also faced bans from various social media platforms in the past for expressing misogynistic views and hate speech. Both Tates hold dual British-U.S. citizenship.
In a recent development, the Bucharest Tribunal extended geographical restrictions against Andrew Tate, preventing him from leaving the country. Tate had requested permission to travel within the European Union with prior approval from a judge. Following their arrest, the Tate brothers were initially held in police detention for three months before being placed under house arrest. They were later allowed to travel within Bucharest Municipality and nearby Ilfov County, but are now free to move around Romania. Additionally, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case, where British authorities had issued arrest warrants over allegations of sexual aggression in a U.K. case dating back to 2012-2015.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal granted the British request to extradite the Tate brothers to the U.K., but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded. The Tates continue to maintain their innocence and refute the allegations against them. The case has garnered significant attention due to Andrew Tate’s social media presence and controversial past statements. The legal battle is ongoing, with the Tates and their legal team prepared to fight the charges against them. The appeal process will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the case and the future of the Tate brothers as they face multiple charges in Romania and potential extradition to the U.K.
