Four women who have accused social media influencer Andrew Tate of sexual abuse are appealing to the United States to refrain from intervening in his ongoing legal proceedings in Romania. The women expressed their deep concern over reports suggesting that US officials have requested Romania to ease travel restrictions on Tate and his brother, Tristan, who hold dual UK-US citizenship.
Matthew Jury, the attorney representing the four alleged victims, voiced his bewilderment regarding the reported involvement of the Trump administration, stating they are “absolutely bewildered why the Trump administration has decided to interfere in this way.” However, Romanian officials have denied any claims of pressure from the US.
Andrew Tate, aged 38, along with his brother, has been in legal jeopardy since their arrest in Romania three years ago, facing serious charges that include rape, trafficking minors, and money laundering, all of which they firmly deny.
Current legal status of the Tate brothers
In addition to the Romanian charges, the Tate brothers are also sought by UK authorities for similar allegations of rape and human trafficking, which they deny. Their extradition to the UK will only be addressed once the Romanian judicial proceedings are concluded.
Recently, reports emerged from the Financial Times indicating that US officials had raised the issue with Romanian authorities, followed up by Richard Grenell, a former envoy of Trump, who reportedly expressed interest in the case over the weekend. Sources suggest that a request was made for the return of the brothers’ passports to allow them to travel while awaiting the outcome of their criminal cases.
Currently, the Tate brothers are prohibited from leaving Romania, although they are no longer under house arrest. Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu confirmed that Grenell brought up the Tate case but emphasized that such discussions did not equate to pressure from the US government.
“Romanian courts are independent and operate based on the law, there is due process,” stated a spokesperson for the Romanian Foreign Minister.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also refuted claims of US intervention, stating on X that there were no requests made regarding the legal matters surrounding the Tates during discussions between Romanian officials and Grenell. He affirmed that both Romania and the US uphold similar values concerning fundamental rights and freedoms.
Implications of US involvement
Richard Grenell has maintained that he had no substantive discussions with Hurezeanu but expressed his support for the Tate brothers via his public statements on social media. The US State Department has been contacted for commentary regarding these events.
Matthew Jury highlighted the distress felt by the women he represents, commenting on the significant support for Tate within segments of right-wing social media. He remarked, “It’s very clear from members of the Trump administration’s social media posts and public statements that there is a great deal of support for Tate.” He added that the support from influential figures is profoundly traumatizing for the alleged victims, stating, “To see the most powerful man in the world support their alleged abuser, is incredibly traumatising… it’s gaslighting of a sort.”
Jury condemned the reported actions of the US as “gross interference in my clients’ right to a fair trial and due process.”
The attorney is also pursuing a civil case against Tate in the UK High Court after the Crown Prosecution Service opted not to pursue criminal charges regarding the women’s allegations. The civil suit operates independently from the criminal investigations being conducted by British authorities.
In their statement, the four women expressed their hope that both Romanian and UK authorities would be permitted to conduct their work without external influence, asserting, “We hope that the Romanian and the UK authorities will be left alone to do their jobs.”
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick echoed this sentiment, cautioning the US against interference and insisting that the Tate brothers must confront justice in the UK. He stressed, “No obstacles should be placed in the way of UK authorities. The government must make that clear to US counterparts.”
Andrew Tate, known for his controversial views and self-identification as a misogynist, has been banned from several social media platforms for his remarks. A former kickboxer, he has amassed a following of millions online and has resided in Romania for several years, after previously living in the UK.