US prosecutors have opposed the release of social media influencers Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate from federal custody, arguing that thebrothers pose a “heightened flight risk,” as they fight extradition to UK. The brother’s face 59 charges including rape and human trafficking.The prosecution filed its response on Monday, three days after the brothers’ defence lawyers sought their release.A hearing before US Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis in Miami is scheduled for August 13 to decide whether the brothers should remain in custody during the monthslong extradition process.Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, were arrested in the US on July 18. The dual US-British citizens and former kickboxers have denied wrongdoing in the cases against them.
Tate brothers face 59 charges in UK
British prosecutors are seeking the brothers’ extradition to face a total of 59 charges involving seven alleged victims.The Crown Prosecution Service announced 38 additional charges on July 19, 32 against Andrew Tate and six against Tristan Tate, adding to 21 charges previously authorised against the brothers.Andrew Tate’s additional charges include seven counts of rape, three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He also faces 19 charges relating to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.Tristan Tate faces two additional rape charges, one count of sexual assault and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.According to the CPS, the alleged offences covered by the additional charges took place between July 2010 and August 2017.Andrew Tate had previously faced 10 charges in Britain, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. Tristan Tate had faced 11 charges, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking.The earlier charges involved three alleged victims, while the additional charges concern four more alleged victims, the CPS said. Neither brother has entered a plea in a British court.
US prosecutors cite flight risk
In their filing, US prosecutors argued that the brothers should remain in custody pending extradition proceedings, saying they could not overcome the strong presumption against bail in international extradition cases.Prosecutors pointed to the seriousness of the UK charges, including allegations of human trafficking, rape and violent assaults involving multiple victims. They also cited allegations in Romania that the brothers had attempted to intimidate witnesses.“That the Tates also claim to maintain multiple passports and identities, have access to excessive wealth and influence in numerous countries, and are stridently unwilling to voluntarily return to face prosecution in the United Kingdom, collectively demonstrate a heightened risk of flight that no amount of bond could overcome,” the filing says.Prosecutors said the brothers’ wealth, international connections and alleged access to multiple passports and identities increased the likelihood that they could flee if released.They also argued that their alleged unwillingness to voluntarily return to Britain, along with the witness-intimidation allegations, raised public-safety concerns and could not be adequately addressed through bail conditions.
Defence offers passports, monitoring
The brothers’ lawyers have disputed the prosecution’s claims and argued that their high public profiles would make it difficult for them to disappear without attracting attention.The defence has offered to surrender their passports and accept location monitoring if the brothers are released. Their lawyers have also pointed to the brothers’ compliance with restrictions previously imposed by Romanian courts, arguing that their conduct during those proceedings does not indicate that they are likely to flee.Britain has until September 16 to submit its full extradition request to the US State Department.The current detention proceedings are separate from the question of whether the brothers will ultimately be extradited. Under the US extradition process, a judge first determines whether the request meets the requirements of US law and the applicable extradition treaty. If the judge certifies that the brothers can be extradited, the final decision on surrender rests with the US secretary of state.The brothers also remain under investigation in Romania. Romanian authorities detained Andrew and Tristan Tate in December 2022 during an investigation into human trafficking and other alleged offences. One criminal case was later returned to prosecutors instead of proceeding to trial.A Romanian court in April removed the remaining judicial-control restrictions on the brothers while investigations continued.A Romanian court had previously approved their extradition to Britain after proceedings in Romania were completed. Their lawyers now argue that Britain’s attempt to seek extradition from the US improperly bypasses that process.Judge Louis is scheduled to decide at Thursday’s hearing whether Andrew and Tristan Tate will remain in federal custody or be released while Britain prepares its full extradition request.