Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed “misogynist influencer,” and his brother, Tristan, have departed Romania on a private jet bound for the United States after authorities lifted their travel ban, according to officials and local media reports.
The two, who were arrested in Romania three years ago and are set to stand trial on charges of rape, human trafficking, and money laundering, departed from Bucharest’s Băneasa airport at 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) en route to Florida, as reported by the 24-hour news channel Antena 3. Airport sources have also confirmed their departure.
Romania’s public prosecutor’s office stated that it had granted the brothers permission to travel to the U.S. while the investigation continues. Judicial sources informed local media that they are expected to return for a court hearing in March.
Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer, and his 36-year-old brother have been restricted from leaving Romania since their arrest in 2022, along with two Romanian women. They are accused of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal group to sexually exploit women.
In August, Romania’s anti-organized crime unit, Diicot, launched a second investigation into additional alleged crimes, including forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, engaging in sexual relations with a minor, and money laundering.
At the time, authorities detained six individuals, including the Tate brothers, and placed them under house arrest. The brothers and their alleged accomplices have denied all charges in both cases.
Holding both British and U.S. citizenship, the Tates are also wanted by UK authorities in connection with allegations of sexual aggression from 2012. However, a Romanian court has ruled that legal proceedings in Romania must be completed first.
Their departure for the U.S. follows a report by the Financial Times, which revealed that Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, had recently discussed the Tate brothers with Romania’s foreign minister, Emil Hurezeanu, during this month’s Munich Security Conference.
Hurezeanu confirmed that Grenell had expressed that he was “interested in the fate of the Tate brothers” but clarified that “there was no form of pressure, no threat” from the U.S. government, stating, “things are perfectly clear as far as we are concerned.”
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has also denied that the U.S. made any request to Bucharest regarding “the legal situation of well-known foreign influencers investigated by Romanian authorities” during or after the conversation.
Tate, who has been banned from multiple social media platforms for promoting misogynistic views and hate speech, maintains a following of over 10 million on X, where he advocates an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics argue demeans women.
In the second case against them, Diicot claims the brothers used the “loverboy” tactic—manipulating victims into believing they were in romantic relationships—to coerce 34 women into producing pornographic content that was then sold online, generating nearly $3 million (£2.1 million).
The agency also alleges that one of the defendants forced a 17-year-old to create pornographic content in both the UK and Romania, profiting $1.5 million. Additionally, it accuses the same defendant of engaging in sexual relations with a 15-year-old on multiple occasions.
