EPAAndrew Tate at a 2024 hearing
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 14:10
Police in Romania have searched the homes of controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brothers. Prosecutors say they suspect underage sex and human trafficking, money laundering and witness tampering. The search is said to be in addition to the ongoing rape and human trafficking charges, for which Tate and one of his brothers are still awaiting trial.
Authorities have conducted four house searches, including in the capital Bucharest. The British broadcaster BBC reports that the investigations have been ongoing for some time.
Andrew Tate became world news through social media, partly because of the misogynistic comments he shared with his followers. The former kickboxer explicitly called himself a woman hater in the past.
For example, he said that “women are the property of men” and also “if you put yourself in a position to be raped, that is partly your own responsibility”. His accounts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube were blocked. He is still active on X.
Conspiracy
British-American Tate, who has lived in Romania for years, is suspected of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal organization, together with his brother and two Romanian women. He was arrested in December 2022 and was then placed under house arrest. He was then allowed to await his trial in freedom.
The influencer and his brother have always denied all allegations. Tate previously said there is no evidence against him and that there is a conspiracy to silence him and his brothers.
The United Kingdom requested extradition this year, where a case of sexual violence against the influencer is also ongoing. Romania has agreed to that request, but Tate and his brother will not be extradited until after the trial in that country. It is still unclear when that will take place.
