**Florida's Attorney General initiates a probe into the Tate brothers, who are embroiled in ongoing legal controversies.**
**Florida Launches Criminal Investigation into Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate**
**Florida Launches Criminal Investigation into Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate**
**The inquiry follows allegations of serious crimes as the Tate brothers return to the US from Romania.**
Florida has opened a criminal investigation into the Tate brothers, Andrew and Tristan, as they arrived in the state from Romania, where they previously faced serious criminal charges. The state's Attorney General, James Uthmeier, announced that investigators have begun executing search warrants and issuing subpoenas as part of this "active" inquiry.
The Tates, both well-known social media influencers with a vast online following, are currently under scrutiny in the US amid allegations stemming from a civil lawsuit. A woman claims that the brothers coerced her into sex work and subsequently defamed her after she provided testimony to Romanian authorities. The brothers strongly deny these claims.
Andrew Tate, 38, and his brother Tristan, 36, are already facing separate charges, including rape and human trafficking, in the UK. They have consistently denied all allegations against them. Uthmeier stated on Tuesday, “Last week, I directed my office to work with our law enforcement partners to conduct a preliminary inquiry into Andrew and Tristan Tate.” He confirmed that the Office of Statewide Prosecution was tasked with collecting evidence for the ongoing investigation.
In response to the announcement, the Tates’ attorney, Joseph McBride, criticized the Attorney General’s actions, alleging that he displayed bias in the case. In a statement, McBride said, “Today, Attorney General James Uthmeier threw ethics law out of the window... calling the comments ‘inflammatory’ and ‘biased.’
The brothers were first arrested in Romania in December 2022, facing charges that include rape and human trafficking. After several months of house arrest, they returned to Romania in March 2023, as part of their legal obligations, but are currently associated with further allegations involving minors, which they also deny.
In addition to issues in Romania, Andrew Tate faces potential extradition in the UK regarding unrelated rape and human trafficking allegations. A civil case has also been filed against him and his brother by four British women in the UK's High Court, accusing him of rape and coercive control, accusations that he refutes.
As this investigation unfolds, the Tates are expected to navigate a complex legal landscape both in the United States and abroad.
