Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan they’re “not welcome” within the Sunshine State after they arrived there when Romania lifted journey restrictions for the pending felony case in opposition to them.
“Florida shouldn’t be a spot the place you’re welcome with that sort of conduct,” DeSantis stated at a press convention in response to a reporter’s query in regards to the Tate brothers.
Florida Legal professional Normal James Uthmeier, in the meantime, launched a “preliminary inquiry” into the Tate brothers, he stated in an announcement on X on Thursday.
“Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence in opposition to girls. If any of those alleged crimes set off Florida jurisdiction, we’ll maintain them accountable,” the Florida AG wrote.
DeSantis denied that state officers OKed the arrival of the self-described misogynists.
“We now have no involvement in that. I examine it by way of the media,” he stated.
Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, left Romania on Wednesday, the place they had been awaiting trial for expenses of intercourse trafficking and forming a felony gang to take advantage of girls sexually.
They deny all expenses.
Their airplane landed in Fort Lauderdale at round midday, a spokesperson for the brothers, Mateea Petrescu, informed AP.
DeSantis added on Thursday that Florida’s AG is exploring authorized choices on what to do with the pair.
“Our Legal professional Normal, James Uthmeier, is trying into what state hooks and jurisdictions we have now to take care of this,” he informed reporters.
The rationale for the lifting of journey restrictions is unclear, though prosecutors within the Japanese European nation accredited a “request to switch the duty stopping the defendants from leaving Romania,” the nation’s anti-organized crime company DIICOT stated in an announcement on Thursday.
Romania’s Prime Minister has denied experiences that the Trump administration put strain on authorities there to let the Tate brothers depart the nation.
“The USA of America has made no request to Romania relating to the authorized standing of sure well-known overseas influencers below investigation by Romanian authorities. There have been no such requests through the dialogue between the International Ministry and Richard Grenell, nor afterward,” Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote in a put up on X final Tuesday, following his assembly with the Particular Presidential Envoy.
President Trump has denied understanding something in regards to the Tates coming to the US in feedback on Thursday.
“I do know nothing about that. We’ll test it out. We’ll let you already know,” he informed reporters within the Oval Workplace.
Andrew and Tristan — who’re twin US-British residents — had been arrested in late 2022 and formally indicted final yr on expenses they participated in a felony intercourse ring that lured girls to Romania.
Individually, 4 girls have accused Andrew Tate of rape and coercive management, and have introduced a civil case in opposition to him within the UK, the place he was born.
“We’re in disbelief and really feel re-traumatized by the information that the Romanian authorities have given into strain from the Trump administration to permit Andrew Tate to journey round Europe and to the US,” the ladies stated in a joint assertion on Thursday.
In December, a court docket dominated that the case in opposition to the Tate brothers couldn’t go to trial as a result of a number of authorized and procedural irregularities from prosecutors.
Nevertheless, the case in opposition to the pair stays open and so they face one other ongoing investigation in Romania.
Andrew Tate, a former skilled kickboxer and actuality TV star, has constructed an internet following of hundreds of thousands by way of his controversial statements seen by many as misogynistic and racist.
He additionally runs an internet academy the place he guarantees to show younger males methods to get wealthy and decide up girls.
Each are avid supporters of Donald Trump, whereas Senior White Home advisor Elon Musk has additionally backed the pair not too long ago on X.
Supply hyperlink
