Florida opens criminal probe into Andrew and Tristan Tate
Florida authorities have launched a criminal investigation into British-American social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who arrived in the state last week from Romania, where they have been facing serious legal battles, including allegations of rape and human trafficking. Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Tuesday that his office has taken legal action by issuing search warrants and subpoenas, formally advancing the ongoing criminal investigation.
In addition to the Florida investigation, the Tate brothers are also defendants in a civil lawsuit filed in the U.S. by a woman who alleges they coerced her into sex work and subsequently defamed her after she provided testimony against them to Romanian authorities. All allegations have been denied by the brothers.
Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer and outspoken social media personality, first gained public recognition through his participation in the UK reality series Big Brother. His younger brother, Tristan, 36, has also built a substantial online following, with both siblings amassing millions of supporters worldwide. Despite their digital influence, they have become entangled in a series of legal controversies across multiple countries. In the UK, they are currently facing separate criminal charges, including allegations of rape and human trafficking—claims they strongly refute.
On Tuesday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, a Republican, announced that the state had initiated legal action against Andrew and Tristan Tate. He explained that his office had recently worked alongside law enforcement agencies to conduct a preliminary investigation into the brothers. After thoroughly reviewing the evidence, he authorized the Office of Statewide Prosecution to proceed with executing search warrants and issuing subpoenas as part of the now-active criminal investigation.
Following the announcement, the Tate brothers’ attorney, Joseph McBride, condemned Uthmeier’s comments, arguing that the attorney general had acted unethically by publicly aligning himself with one side in an ongoing Florida lawsuit. McBride asserted that Andrew and Tristan Tate were suing a Florida woman, alleging that she had devised a calculated scheme to manipulate sex as a means to damage their reputations. He further described Uthmeier’s remarks as unfairly prejudicial, labeling them as both inflammatory and biased.
Andrew and Tristan Tate were initially taken into custody in Romania in December 2022. Andrew faced allegations of rape and human trafficking, while Tristan was accused of involvement in human trafficking. The brothers had relocated from the United Kingdom to Romania several years earlier.
The police in Bedfordshire, England, are seeking Andrew Tate’s extradition on unrelated charges, including rape, human trafficking, and tax evasion. In the UK, four British women have filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew Tate in the High Court, accusing him of rape and coercive control. They claim that he will likely evade prosecution in Romania and have urged UK authorities to take action.
As legal proceedings continue across multiple jurisdictions, the Tate brothers remain under intense scrutiny, with their future now hinging on the outcomes of these international investigations. Given the high-profile nature of their case, the developments in Florida are likely to draw significant public and media attention in the coming weeks.