Florida AG says MAGA influencer Andrew Tate and his brother are under criminal investigation


Florida AG says MAGA influencer Andrew Tate and his brother are under criminal investigation

March 5, 2025, 3:27 PM EST By Ja'han Jones Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier provided details Tuesday about his criminal investigation into self-proclaimed misogynist and pro-Trump “influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, after both arrived in the U.S. after leaving Romania, where both face charges of human trafficking and money laundering. The brothers, who deny all the allegations against them, turned up in Florida on Thursday. Their appearance followed a report that the Trump administration had pressured Romania to loosen the Tate brothers’ travel restrictions. Last week, Donald Trump denied having any knowledge about the Tate brothers’ entry into the U.S. Indeed, welcoming them would seem to run afoul of the Trump administration’s self-proclaimed campaign against alleged “vicious criminals” coming into the country (never mind that Trump himself has been found liable for sexual abuse and has welcomed accused abusers into his orbit). After the Tates landed in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said publicly they weren’t welcome. At the time, Uthmeier said he’d opened a “preliminary inquiry” into possible charges against the brothers under Florida law. On Tuesday, he said there’s an “active criminal investigation” into the brothers, adding that subpoenas and warrants have been issued. “These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world,” Uthmeier told Florida-based reporter Forrest Saunders.