Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are facing charges of human trafficking in Romania, have departed for the United States after a travel ban against them was lifted, according to an official statement on Thursday.
The Tate brothers are also accused of leading a criminal gang involved in the sexual exploitation of women. Both Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, hold dual U.S.-British citizenship and have a significant online following.
The circumstances under which the Tates were permitted to leave Romania remain unclear. A Ministry of Internal Affairs official, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization, mentioned that the decision was made by prosecutors.
Romania's anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, disclosed that prosecutors had granted a request to modify the travel restriction on the defendants, allowing them to depart the country. However, judicial control measures are still in effect, requiring the brothers to appear before authorities when summoned. Violating these obligations could lead to stricter measures being imposed.
The Tate brothers were apprehended near Bucharest in late 2022 along with two Romanian women. Formal charges were filed against all four individuals last year, with a trial pending. Despite the indictments, Andrew and Tristan Tate, along with the Romanian women, have denied all allegations.
Reports suggest that the U.S. government, during the Trump administration, showed interest in the Tate brothers' legal situation in Romania. This was highlighted by Romania's Foreign Minister at the Munich Security Conference, although he denied any form of pressure being exerted.
In a significant development, a court in Bucharest ruled in December that the case against the Tates and the Romanian women could not proceed to trial due to legal and procedural irregularities on the part of the prosecutors. While this decision dealt a blow to DIICOT, the case remains open, and the Tate brothers are also facing a separate legal proceeding in Romania.
