Bucharest authorities expand investigation into the controversial ‘manosphere’ influencers, bringing new human trafficking charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate.
Andrew and Tristan Tate arrive at court for a pre-trial hearing in Bucharest, February 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE/Robert Ghement.
Romanian anti-organised crime prosecutors on Thursday evening indicted British-American influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate in a new case involving alleged trafficking of minors, according to court records seen by BIRN.
Prosecutors accuse the defendants, together with two Romanian
Prosecutors accuse the defendants, together with two Romanian nationals, of trafficking minors and related offences, including money laundering.
The new indictment follows a December 2024 decision by the Bucharest Court of Appeal to return the original case file to prosecutors for the investigation to be redone.
Romania’s anti-organised crime agency, DIICOT, subsequently expanded its investigation and brought additional charges.
According to judicialns have been separated from the broader investigation in order to avoid the risk of statutory limitation
The brothers have been under investigation in Romania since their initial arrest in December 2022.
They face various allegations, including human trafficking, rape,
They face various allegations, including human trafficking, rape, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money-laundering.
In June, prosecutors expanded their investigation into Andrew Tate to cover new allegations that he sexually exploited a woman in 2017, taking advantage of her vulnerable situation to induce her to produce sexually explicit content and perform video chat activities – and that he and his brother, Tristan, laundered almost 3 million euros earned from human trafficking
The Tate brothers have denied wrongdoing.
Despite being arrested in 2022, the case against them has made slow progress: in late 2024, a court returned the original indictment to prosecutors, saying it was flawed, and in February 2025 DIICOT permitted the brothers to leave Romania, despite the ongoing case.
They are currently in the United States, contesting extradition to the United Kingdom, where authorities have brought nearly 60 charges against them, including rape, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Both brothers have described the cases against them as politically motivated and unfounded.
Source: balkaninsight.com
