British-American influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have appeared at a police station after returning to Romania from the US.
The brothers registered with the authorities in the capital, Bucharest, in a legal formality to demonstrate their compliance with an ongoing criminal investigation.
They are under investigation in Romania for forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors and money laundering. Andrew also faces allegations of rape and sex with a minor.
The pair deny all accusations.
After leaving the police station, Andrew, 38, refused to say whether he would remain in Romania, but vowed to clear his name both there and in the UK.
The brothers returned to Romania on Friday nearly a month after they unexpectedly had their travel ban lifted by the authorities.
Soon after, the pair announced they flew on a private jet to Florida – where they quickly became the focus of a new investigation.
Florida’s state attorney-general launched a criminal inquiry into the brothers, welcomed by the US National Centre on Sexual Exploitation, which represents one of Tate’s alleged victims.
The brothers’ exit from Romania led to speculation that prosecutors felt political pressure from President Donald Trump – whom they support. Trump has denied any knowledge of their release and the Tates have dismissed claims of outside influence.
Replying to a question about the US charges today, Andrew denied them and said: “I am investigated everywhere on the planet, because I am one of the most important people on the planet.”
He also said there was a “witch hunt” against him.
The pair were arrested in Romania in late 2022 amid accusations of misleading women and transporting them to Romania where they were later sexually exploited and subjected to physical violence.
The pair are also the subjects of a separate investigation in the UK into allegations of rape and human trafficking, which they deny.
British authorities have secured a warrant over allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012, meaning the brothers could face extradition once Romanian proceedings conclude.
Last month, Romanian authorities warned the Tates they must return for a court appearance or risk “a higher custodial measure”.
Andrew, who has been banned from several social media platforms for his misogynistic views and hate speech, later told his 10 million followers on X that he had spent $185,000 (£142,800) on a private jet to “sign one single piece of paper in Romania”.
The BBC asked Andrew on Monday about his inflammatory tweets in the aftermath of the Southport attack in the UK last year in which three girls at a summer holiday dance and yoga class were stabbed to death and he falsely claimed the attacker was an illegal immigrant. Tate called the BBC correspondent “a nobody” before being driven away.
By BBC News
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