Will Vernon and Rachel Hargan
BBC News
Reports from BuCharest and London BBC
Andrew Tate refused to say whether he would stay in Romania
British-American influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan appeared at the police station after returning from the US to Romania.
The brothers registered with authorities in the capital Bucharest in legal form to demonstrate compliance with ongoing criminal investigations.
They are currently investigating in Romania for organised criminal groups, human trafficking, minor trafficking and money laundering. Andrew is also facing minor and rape and sex allegations. The pair denies all charges.
After leaving the police station, Andrew (38) refused to say whether he would remain in Romania, but vowed to clear his name both there and in the UK.
The brothers returned to Romania on Friday, almost a month after the authorities unexpectedly lifted the travel ban.
Soon after that, the pair announced they had flew on a private jet to Florida. There they quickly became the focus of a new investigation.
The Florida State Attorney General was welcomed by the U.S. National Center on Sexual Exploitation, representing one of Tate’s victims, and launched a criminal investigation into his brother.
The brothers’ exit from Romania led to speculation that prosecutors felt political pressure from President Donald Trump. Trump denied knowledge of their release, and Tates dismissed claims of external influence.
In response to questions about the US accusations today, Andrew denied them, saying, “I’m being investigated everywhere on the planet, because I’m one of the most important people on the planet.”
He also said there was a “witch hunt” against him.
EPA-EFE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
This pair is also the subject of another UK investigation.
The pair were arrested in Romania in late 2022 amid accusations of misleading women and later being transported to Romania, where sexually exploited and exposed to physical violence.
The pair is also the subject of another investigation into rape and trafficking allegations in the UK, which they denies.
British authorities have secured warrants for allegations of sexual assault dating back to 2012. That is, once the Romanian lawsuit concludes, the brothers could face extradition.
Last month, Romanian authorities warned Tates that they need to return due to court appearances or risk of “higher custody measures.”
Andrew, who has been banned from several social media platforms due to his misogynistic views and hate speech, later told his 10 million followers on X that he would spend $185,000 (£142,800) on a private jet to “sign one paper in Romania.”
The BBC asked Andrew on Monday about an inflammatory tweet in the aftermath of last year’s Southport attack in the UK. Last year, three girls were stabbed in a summer holiday and yoga class, falsely claiming that the attacker was an illegal immigrant. Tate called the BBC correspondent “Nobody” before being chased away.
