MIAMI (AP) , A federal judge is set to consider Thursday whether social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate should stay in custody while they fight extradition to the U.K. on charges of rape and sex trafficking.
Both brothers have been held at a federal detention center in Miami since their brief court appearance following their July 18 arrest. Their lawyers have maintained that their celebrity status and large social media following make it almost impossible for them to abscond.
U.S. Magistrate Lauren Louis will have the opportunity to question both the defense and prosecutors before deciding whether the brothers, who have consistently denied any wrongdoing, should be freed during what may turn into a monthslong extradition proceeding.
The Tates have built themselves into some of the most divisive internet figures in the world, championing wealth, male dominance and misogyny through their online presence. The new allegations represent the latest chapter in their ongoing international legal battles that have stretched across the U.S., Britain and Romania.
An extradition hearing has not yet been scheduled. The U.K. has until mid-September to submit evidence to the State Department.
Defense claims government hasn’t shown Tates are a flight risk
Federal prosecutors have pushed for the brothers to remain behind bars, pointing to the strong presumption against bail in international extradition matters. The Tates’ assertions of holding multiple passports and having wealth and influence in various countries point to a significant flight danger no amount of money could mitigate, according to prosecutors.
Lawyers representing the brothers say most of their claims about their wealth were exaggerated to enhance their social media images, that their statements about multiple passports were satirical, and that a “$50-million-dollar superyacht” shown in one of their videos isn’t actually theirs. The high-end luxury vehicles, including a $2.1 million Aston Martin, featured in other videos were leased, the defense has said.
The Tates’ legal team also argued in court documents that the brothers demonstrated they wouldn’t flee by adhering to pretrial restrictions in a separate case in Romania, where they face accusations of luring women into sexual exploitation.
Tates face legal troubles in several countries
The brothers have long insisted that their violent and misogynistic remarks have been taken out of context or were meant as humor.
The former professional kickboxers, who hold dual U.S. and U.K. citizenship, boast millions of social media followers and are outspoken backers of President Donald Trump. The White House has indicated the brothers shouldn’t anticipate any assistance from the president.
Andrew Tate, 39, first gained attention about a decade ago as a contestant on the U.K. reality television series “Big Brother.” He was removed from the program after a video emerged that appeared to depict him assaulting a woman.
He has built a following of more than 10 million users on X but has been barred from other platforms, including YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, for breaking hate speech rules. He has made widely criticized statements, including suggesting that women who are sexually assaulted should bear some responsibility for the attacks and posting graphic descriptions of how he might harm women.
Tristan Tate, 38, has partnered with his brother on several businesses, including the production of online webcam pornography.