Andrew Tate, Brother Tristan Formally Charged In Controversial Human Trafficking, Rape Investigation

Andrew Tate 36, and brother Tristan, 34, were formally charged Tuesday, after 15 months of on-and-off investigation by Romanian authorities. The indictment deposited with the Bucharest court says the bothers and two other women charged along with them, formed an organised criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in the eastern European nation, and in the US and UK.

According to a statement from Romanian prosecutors, seven alleged victims say were recruited by the Tate brothers through false promises of love and marriage; and were later allegedly taken to buildings in Ilfov county, where they were intimidated, placed under constant surveillance and control and forced into debt. The women were allegedly forced to take part in making sexual content which was later shared on social media. One defendant is also accused of raping a woman twice in March 2022, the statement adds.

Also noted in the indictment, Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, DIICOT confiscated over $380 million from the Tate brothers in cryptocurrency, 15 luxury cars, 14 luxury watches, 15 lands of buildings.

A judge at the Bucharest court's preliminary chamber, will have 60 days to inspect the case files to ensure legality, before it can be sent to trial.

The Tate brothers and the two women were held in police custody from Dec. 29 until March 31 before a Bucharest court put them under house arrest, which prosecutors on Tuesday sought to extend. On Wednesday, a judge will decide whether to prolong the house detention for 30 days or replace it with a lighter measure.

"While this news is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation," Tate brothers' media team said in a statement. It added that the indictment "allows us to present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently collected and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly substantiate the brothers' claims of innocence."

Responding on social media, Andrew Tate wrote: "Men. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about whether you like me or not. This is about all of us. Today it’s me. Tomorrow it’s you. Nobody is safe from these lies."

Tristan on his part wrote: "They’ve finished the 'investigation!' Progress at last. These 15 months have been hell on everybody I care about. If I were the police I’d have ended the 'investigation' after a week when the two girls were caught bragging about lying and discussing the future financial and fame benefits they would get by doing so. None the less this 'file' will now finally be in the hands of a judge."

He added: "This means the evidence will finally be reviewed. Up until now no judge has looked at the evidence and even tried to make a 'guilty' or 'not guilty' determination. The case was in the hands of investigators who were fighting to keep me in jail so they could 'keep investigating.' Horrible I know. But the good part starts now."

Replying to internet personality Pearl Davis on Twitter, Tristan also pointed out: "The criminal indictment states 'in 2021 they formed a gang with the purpose of kidnapping people.' The cam studio closed 4 years prior to this. Also of the 7 alleged victims (many of which are totally on our side) how many of them do you think worked for my webcam studio? 0."

Critics point out the charges don't make sense to anyone who knows how social media works. "Kidnapping half a dozen women to force them to make TikTok (!!!) videos for millions of dollars?" @Stillgray wonders on Twitter. "That sounds so made-up it's not even funny. TikTok doesn't even pay that well."