The Florida Attorney General has launched a criminal investigation into Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, both prominent yet highly controversial social media figures.
The Tate brothers, who had been restricted from traveling due to legal issues in Romania, touched down at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on February 27.
Their return to the U.S. followed Romania’s decision to lift travel restrictions tied to ongoing investigations.
Andrew, 38, a self-proclaimed misogynist banned from most of the major social media platforms, has made numerous inflammatory statements, including claiming women “belong to men” and are responsible for all sexual assaults.
Reacting to the Florida investigation, Tate appeared on Candace Owens’s podcast and ridiculed the authorities while taunting them to arrest him.
His fiery rant included a boastful admission of routinely deleting potential evidence from his phone, stating, “You think I sleep with a phone full of evidence? You think I don’t wipe my phone every night?”
“If I’m really not welcome, I won’t stay,” Tate declared. “But you wanna play these games? I’m right here in Miami! I’m right here in Miami! Come get me! Arrest me! Perp walk me! Put me on the news! Tell everyone I’m a human trafficker!”
Florida Attorney General @JamesUthmeierFL says he’s opened criminal investigation of Tate brothers, @Cobratate & @TateTheTalisman:
“These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women…” pic.twitter.com/FYIfbDKCBu
— Forrest Saunders (@FBSaunders) March 4, 2025
Continuing his tirade, Tate said, “You think I’m not versed? You think I’m not ready. I’m a Navy SEAL in this s**t! Come get me! Raid my house! Take my stuff! … I’ve done it for four years in Romania. You think I’m scared of your state jail after an Eastern European gulag?”
The brothers are no strangers to legal troubles. Originally apprehended in 2022 near Bucharest, Romania, they were accused of forming an organized criminal group involved in human trafficking, coercing minors, engaging in sexual exploitation, and laundering money.
Romanian authorities continue to investigate these allegations even as the Tate brothers left the country.
NBC News cites Romanian legal authorities requiring both Tates to remain available for questioning, warning that any attempts to avoid legal obligations could lead to stricter penalties.
Furthermore, Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime stated the brothers must report to judicial authorities if summoned.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the Tates maintain they are not involved in any illegal activities, though their legal troubles extend beyond Romania, as both brothers now face another active case in the United Kingdom, where they hold dual citizenship.
There, they are accused of trafficking and raping women between the years 2013 and 2015, leading to an outstanding arrest warrant.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to pursue the brothers’ immediate extradition to the U.K.
“Four British women have accused Andrew Tate of rape and human trafficking,” said Davey. “But I’m delighted that Florida has thankfully opened a criminal investigation.”
On Tuesday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced his office’s decision to proceed with a formal investigation into the Tate brothers.
“Last week, I directed my office to work with our law enforcement partners to conduct a preliminary inquiry into Andrew and Tristan Tate,” he posted on X. ”
Based on a thorough review of the evidence, I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas in the now-active criminal investigation into the Tate brothers.”
Uthmeier added, “Florida has zero tolerance for people who abuse women and girls. We will not allow it.”
He described offenses involving the Tates as “atrocious” and pledged to enforce Florida state laws rigorously if criminal activity occurred within the state’s jurisdiction.
One of the accusations tied to the Romanian investigation includes a Florida victim’s testimony.
According to court filings, this American woman alleges the Tate brothers used a deceptive romantic relationship to lure her to Romania, where she was later coerced into working as a webcam model.
Dani Pinter, the Florida woman’s legal representative, publicly thanked Uthmeier for initiating the investigation, highlighting the scope of alleged exploitation attributed to the Tates.
“Over 40 victims have been identified across Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They deserve justice,” Pinter argued.
Richard Grenell, a high-profile Trump envoy, reportedly raised concerns involving the Tate brothers to Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu during February’s Munich Security Conference.
However, Hurezeanu dismissed claims that the discussion was coercive, denying any undue pressure to reinvestigate the brothers’ Romanian charges.
The Tate brothers seem determined to fight their cases internationally. Rhetorically, Andrew declared during his podcast appearance, “I beat it in England; I beat it in Romania; and I’ll beat it in Florida. I’ll beat it everywhere because I haven’t done anything to anyone.”
Meanwhile, courts in Bucharest have yet to assign a trial date for their case in Romania.
Watch Tate’s full interview with Candace Owens here: