The Trump administration will not intervene to prevent the extradition of Andrew and Tristan Tate to the United Kingdom, where they face allegations of rape, sex trafficking, and creating indecent images of children. The brothers, dual US-UK citizens, were arrested in Miami on Saturday at the request of British authorities.
Despite claims by the Tate brothers' legal team suggesting potential intervention based on their alleged ties to the former president, a US official told The Daily Telegraph that the White House has had no involvement in the matter. The final decision on extradition rests with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following a court examination of the case.
Andrew Tate has been charged with seven counts of rape, three counts of facilitating sexual exploitation, three counts of assault, and 19 additional charges related to indecent images of children and extreme pornography. Tristan Tate faces charges including one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape, and three counts of facilitating sexual exploitation.
Unsealed court records detail allegations from at least two women. One claims Andrew Tate choked her unconscious before raping her in 2015. Another alleges that he choked her to the point of fearing for her life during a later visit to her home in 2014. Tristan Tate is accused by a former girlfriend of choking, beating, and raping her throughout their relationship between 2012 and 2013, with claims of repeated strangulation until she lost consciousness, eye injuries, and lashing with a belt.
The brothers deny all allegations, with their lawyer, Joseph McBride, characterizing the charges as a politically motivated "witch hunt" and calling the UK "a fallen state that prosecutes its citizens for free speech." McBride suggested Trump, who he believes was elected "to fight against this kind of nonsense," could intervene.
Malcolm McHaffie of the UK's Crown Prosecution Service stated that the charges follow the receipt of additional evidence from Bedfordshire police, bringing the total number of alleged victims to seven. The extradition request is based on allegations involving four women between July 2010 and August 2017.
Britain and the United States have an extradition treaty for offenses carrying a minimum one-year prison sentence in both countries. The Tate brothers' legal team is expected to apply for their release at a hearing on July 27, where a magistrate will determine if they will remain in custody during the extradition process.
The arrests followed reports that the Tate brothers had met with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill and attended a party hosted by Trump envoy Paolo Zampolli prior to their apprehension. The pair are prominent figures in the manosphere, known for promoting misogynistic views. The brothers are also reportedly under investigation in Romania for allegedly coercing women into pornography and have faced accusations in the US. They have not visited the UK since a travel ban was lifted in Romania last year.