Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Tuesday that his office has initiated a criminal investigation into Andrew and Tristan Tate, the controversial influencers currently facing human trafficking and rape charges in Romania. The Tates touched down in Florida last week after nearly three years of travel restrictions that prevented them from leaving Romania as the case against them unfolded.
“Last week, I directed my office to work with our law enforcement partners to conduct a preliminary inquiry into Andrew and Tristan Tate,” the attorney general wrote in an X post. “Based on a thorough review of the evidence, I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas in the now-active criminal investigation into the Tate brothers.”
Last week, I directed my office to work with our law enforcement partners to conduct a preliminary inquiry into Andrew and Tristan Tate.
Based on a thorough review of the evidence, I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas…
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) March 4, 2025
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The nature of the investigation is unclear, but it is likely connected to the charges the Tates are already facing in Romania, namely human trafficking, rape, and money laundering, among other alleged crimes. Similar charges are pending against them in the United Kingdom.
“These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world, many of these victims coming forward, some of them minors,” Uthmeier told reporters during a press conference. “You know, people can spin or defend however they want, but in Florida, this type of behavior is viewed as atrocious. We’re not going to accept it.”
Florida Attorney General @JamesUthmeierFL says he's opened criminal investigation of Tate brothers, @Cobratate & @TateTheTalisman:
"These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women…" pic.twitter.com/FYIfbDKCBu
— Forrest Saunders (@FBSaunders) March 4, 2025
“People can spin and defend however you want, but in Florida, this type of behavior is viewed as atrocious, we’re not going to accept it. They chose to come here and set their feet down in this state, and we’re going to pursue every tool we have within our legal authority to hold them accountable,” he continued. “So we are in the process today, we have secured and executed subpoenas and warrants, and we’re going to continue to move forward with full force of law.”
Hours before the influencer duo arrived in the Sunshine State, Governor Ron DeSantis clarified that Florida officials had not been notified of their travel plans. He also authorized Uthmeier to begin looking into any possible jurisdictional issues caused by the Tates’ presence in the state.
“Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct,” the governor said at the time.
The Tates, who hold dual US-British citizenship, have publicly denied the allegations, asserting that they are being unfairly persecuted for their political commentary. Andrew Tate addressed the subject directly during a three-hour interview on the PBD Podcast–his first media stop after arriving in Florida.
“I don’t know why Ron’s answer wasn’t, ‘He has an American passport. The judicial system in Romania, which I know absolutely nothing about, decided to let him fly, and he’s flown to his home country. As far as we’re concerned, he’s broken no laws,’” Tate said. “Instead, what he did was say: ‘We’re going to get our attorney general to try and find some laws he’s broken and wreck this man who’s done nothing inside of the United States ever.’”
The Romanian government confirmed that the Tates must return to court in March, although extradition to the UK is contingent on the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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