Andrew and Tristan Tate denied bail in Miami as brothers fight UK extradition over rape charges

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Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have lost their bid for release from a Miami jail as they contest extradition to the United Kingdom, where they are wanted on rape charges.

In denying bail for the Tate brothers, Miami-based US Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis said the brothers’ wealth and frequent international travel made them “quintessential flight risks”.

“While (the brothers) may not in fact possess what extravagant holdings they portray themselves as possessing online, the record reflects that they possess an exceptional capacity to flee the jurisdiction,” Louis wrote.

The Tate brothers’ US-based lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In court filings, their lawyers had argued their “extraordinary public visibility” would make it impractical for them to flee, and described social media posts in which the brothers touted their wealth as “theatrical” and “grandiose”.

Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, were arrested in Miami on July 18 after the UK requested their extradition to face charges of rape, assault and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.

The Tate brothers, who have dual US and UK citizenship, have denied any wrongdoing.

The arrests marked a new phase in the legal troubles for the former kickboxers, who have built a large online following promoting their views on masculinity and wealth.

Prosecutors with the Miami US Attorney’s office argued there was a strong presumption in favour of detention in international extradition cases.

They said the brothers could pose a danger to the public if released, citing UK allegations that they strangled victims during forcible rapes.

The Tates recruited dozens of women to work for a webcam pornography business starting in 2014, and later ran online courses called “Hustler’s University,” prosecutors with the Miami US Attorney’s office said in an August 10 court filing.

At an August 27 hearing in Miami federal court, prosecutors showed the court a video of Andrew Tate saying “slap, slap, grab, choke, shut up bitch, sex”.

At the hearing, both Tate brothers testified they were playing characters online when they made crude remarks.

Louis wrote on Wednesday that the nature of the allegations against the Tates indicated they posed dangers to the community.

The brothers have also been under investigation on charges including human trafficking since 2022 in Romania, where they were mainly based since 2017.

Romanian prosecutors officially indicted Andrew Tate on Friday on charges of trafficking minors, money laundering, sex with a minor and witness tampering.

Tristan Tate was indicted for complicity.

A Romanian lawyer for the Tates said they rejected the allegations.

The legal process for determining whether the Tate brothers may be extradited to the UK could take months.

The UK has until September 16 to submit its full extradition request to the State Department, US court records show.

The impetus for the brothers’ arrests in Miami was new charges brought by the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service relating to alleged offences involving four alleged victims between July 2010 and August 2017.

They had previously faced rape and human trafficking charges in the UK related to three alleged victims, the CPS said.

A UK judge issued a warrant for their arrests in 2024.

They have not appeared in a UK court to enter a plea to those charges.

The UK is seeking to extradite the brothers to face both sets of charges.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Crisis Care Helpline on 1800 199 008.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.