THE TATE ESCAPE
Andrew Tate & brother Tristan FLEE Romania on private jet to Florida as sex crimes probe hangs by thread
The controversial brothers still face a slew of serious allegations
ANDREW and Tristan Tate have fled Romania just weeks after being freed from house arrest over trafficking allegations.
Toxic influencer Andrew, 38, and his younger brother Tristan, 36, jetted out of Bucharest and headed towards Florida in the early hours of this morning, according to sources.
7
7
7
The pair left by private jet from the Aurel Vlaicu International Airport in Baneasa at around 5:30am local time (3:30am GMT) and headed in the direction of the US.
Sources close to the siblings have told The Sun they are travelling to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
It comes after the Trump administration lobbied the Romanian government to ease constraints on the brothers, according to a Financial Times report last week.
They are said to have asked that the brothers' passports are returned to them which would allow them to travel despite investigations continuing.
read more in Tate brothers
It was thought the pair, who have dual UK-US nationality, had been under a tight ban from leaving Romania which now appears to have been lifted.
Romanian special prosecutor's service, Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), who have been leading investigations against the Tates released a statement earlier today.
They made it clear both are still under investigation with the case not dropped.
The brothers will also have to return to Bucharest later this year to adhere to the terms of their "judicial control" status, DIICOT added.
Most read in The Sun
Their next court hearing is scheduled for March, according to local media.
An image widely circulating on social media and in local Romanian media appears to show Tristan waving as he boards a jet.
It is still unclear if the picture is from today.
Moment commando cops storm Andrew Tate’s compound through ROOF after blocked by ‘bulletproof door’ amid 'minor sex' probe
Both brothers were arrested in Romania three years ago after moving from the UK and still face a number of serious charges.
Cops have spent years trying to build up a case against the siblings after accusing them of rape, trafficking minors and money laundering.
The pair deny all accusations against them and have vehemently been fighting the claims both in court and on social media.
Today's shock move has now left a number of British women who have accused Andrew of rape and human trafficking voicing their serious concerns over the news.
In a joint statement to : "We are in disbelief and feel retraumatised by the news that the Romanian authorities have given into pressure from the Trump administration to allow Andrew Tate to travel around Europe and to the US.
"We can only hope that the British authorities finally take action and do something about this terrifying unfolding situation to ensure he faces justice in the UK."
Downing Street say they are aware of the brothers being on the move to the US but will not comment on the possibility of them being extradited to the UK.
A No 10 spokesman said: “This remains a live case, you wouldn’t expect us to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
“This was a decision taken by the Romanian courts independently following due process and their investigation remains in place.
“But more widely, the Prime Minister has been clear that human trafficking should be viewed as a global security threat, similar to terrorism.”
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise the concerns with President Trump when they meet later today in Washington.
7
7
7
In December, British cops were allowed to seize more than £2million from the pair after the pair didn't pay taxes.
The brothers failed to pay any tax on £21million in revenue from their online businesses — now held in seven frozen bank accounts.
Andrew said at the time: “This isn’t justice, it’s a co-ordinated attack on those who challenge the system.”
Cops are seeking their extradition to the UK for similar allegations here.
Footage in August showed armed cops storming their home through the roof after being blocked by "bulletproof doors".
Masked officers raided the controversial influencer's home amid a probe into new allegations of trafficking and sex with a minor.
Andrew moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in the UK.
Andrew initially gained fame after a short-lived appearance on Big Brother.
He was dumped from the reality show after alleged footage of him beating a woman emerged online.
Read More on The Sun
Andrew then built up an image that appealed to teenage boys - creating an online empire that made him one of the most searched people on Google.
Masquerading as lifestyle advice, much of the content is considered highly sexist and is seen as promoting violence against women.
His influence has had a worrying spread amongst young men and boys, with one UK MP saying he is "brainwashing" children.
TATE ARREST TIMELINE
ANDREW and Tristan Tate were arrested in December 2022 and later charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.
Here is a timeline of everything that's happened since they were nicked:
DECEMBER 29, 2022: The brothers are detained in Romania for 30 days, along with two women, on suspicion of human trafficking, rape, and forming an organised crime group.
JANUARY 3, 2023: Romanian authorities seize Andrew's luxury car collection.
JAN 8, 2023: A cryptic tweet is posted to Andrew Tate's account which reads: "The Matrix has attacked me. But they misunderstand, you cannot kill an idea. Hard to Kill."
JAN 10, 2023: Andrew appears in court in Bucharest to appeal his detention but the judge rules against him.
MARCH 31, 2023: The Bucharest Court of Appeal rules against a judge’s decision to extend Andrew's incarceration for a fourth time; Andrew is placed on house arrest.
JUNE 20, 2023: The brothers are formally charged with human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
JULY 13, 2023: The Tates launch a $5million lawsuit against a Florida woman who they say falsely accused them of imprisoning her in Romania - which led to their arrest there on human trafficking charges.
AUGUST 4, 2023: Andrew wins an appeal to be released from house arrest in Romania as he awaits trial on charges of human trafficking.
DECEMBER 11, 2023: A judge denies the Tate brothers' appeals to have £10million worth of assets returned to them.
JANUARY 8, 2024: The Bucharest Court of Appeal overturns the decision; the brothers are to have their assets returned to them.
MARCH 12, 2024: Both brothers are arrested in Romania over allegations of sexual aggression in the UK that date back to 2012 and 2015. They deny the allegations.
MARCH 22, 2024: The brothers lost their appeal to get back £10million worth of assets seized by cops.
APRIL 26, 2024: A Romanian court rules that Andrew and Tristan will face trail over ongoing probe into rape and human trafficking.
JULY 5, 2024: Courts rule that Andrew and Tristan can leave Romania - but must stay in the EU.
JANUARY 14, 2025: Brothers freed from house arrest
FEBRUARY 27, 2025: Andrew and Tristan reportedly flee Romania on a private jet
7
Topics