Florida is making it clear how it feels about Andrew and Tristan Tate, two brothers who grew in popularity as internet personalities. The state’s attorney general announced it would launch a criminal investigation into the brothers for alleged incidents of rape and human trafficking.
Andrew Tate is a kickboxer and self-described misogynist who rose to fame on the UK TV show "Big Brother" and the two have millions of online followers. The two brothers, who are seen as controversial figures over their online content, have returned to the U.S. after being charged with human trafficking in Romania. The Tates landed in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday after years of being abroad.
On Tuesday, Attorney General James Uthmeier said on social media that he was directing his office to work with local law enforcement to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the brothers.
“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,” Uthmeier said.
He added, “Florida has zero tolerance for people who abuse women and girls. We will not allow it.”
The investigation comes days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) told reporters that the brothers were not welcome in Florida and that he would be having the attorney general examine whether the state had any jurisdiction over their alleged crimes.
Andrew Tate accused DeSantis of caving to media pressure during an appearance on a podcast on Monday. He said he has a U.S. passport and the right to visit his home country.
He also maintained his innocence, saying he’s never broken any laws and has never been tried or convicted of a crime.
The brothers are dual U.S.-British citizens and were arrested in late 2022 and formally indicted last year in Romania. The charges brought against them were for their alleged participation in a criminal ring where they allegedly lured women to the country to exploit them for sex. Andrew Tate has also been charged with rape.
They have denied the allegations.
The brothers grew in fame throughout the pandemic with their social media presence, having amassed millions of followers. However, Andrew Tate, a 38-year-old former professional kickboxer, has been banned from TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook for hate speech and misogynistic comments.
The brothers left Romania last month after Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said that an official in the Trump administration expressed interest in the brothers’ case.