Andrew and Tristan Tate, the controversial social media influencers facing human trafficking charges in Romania, have reportedly left for the United States after their travel ban was lifted.
An official confirmed the brothers’ departure on Thursday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Authorities accuse the Tate brothers, known for supporting former U.S. President Donald Trump, of forming a criminal gang to exploit women.
Investigators detained Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, along with two Romanian women near Bucharest in late 2022. Officials formally indicted them in 2023, though they have yet to set a trial date. The duo denies all charges.
The decision to lift the travel ban remains unclear, with no public explanation from Romanian authorities. However, an anonymous Ministry of Internal Affairs official indicated that prosecutors exercised their discretion in allowing the brothers to leave the country.
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The brothers, who hold both U.S. and British citizenship, are still subject to judicial controls, including the obligation to appear before Romanian authorities whenever summoned.
Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, confirmed that the defendants got the permission to leave, with warning that any violation of their remaining legal obligations could lead to stricter measures, including possible detention.
The timing of the Tates’ departure coincides with comments from Romania’s Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu, who recently mentioned that a U.S. official expressed interest in the case at the Munich Security Conference. However, Hurezeanu emphasized that the inquiry was not an attempt to interfere with the judicial process.