Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, have departed Romania on a private jet en route to the United States after authorities lifted their travel ban, according to officials and local media reports.
The brothers, who were arrested in Romania in 2022 and are facing trial on charges including rape, sex with a minor, human trafficking, and money laundering, departed from Băneasa Airport in Bucharest at 6 a.m. (4 a.m. GMT), bound for Fort Lauderdale. Airport officials confirmed their departure.
Local authorities stated that prosecutors had approved their request to leave the country. Romania’s anti-organized crime unit, Diicot, emphasized that the brothers remained “under judicial supervision” and would be required to “appear before the judicial authorities at every summons.”
The agency further warned that failure to comply with these obligations “may lead to a higher custodial measure.” According to local media, the Tates—who hold dual British and U.S. citizenship—are expected to return to Romania in March for a judicial control court hearing.
The brothers are vocal supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and some of Trump’s close allies have publicly criticized their legal troubles. Donald Trump Jr. called their detention “absolute insanity.”
Elon Musk reacted to a post by Tate suggesting he might “run for prime minister of the UK” by responding, “he’s not wrong.” Meanwhile, one of Tate’s lawyers, Paul Ingrassia, serves as the White House liaison official for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ingrassia claimed that the Tate brothers had been “sacrificed on the altar of the Matrix under the banner of egregious crimes they never committed.” Additionally, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has appeared on a podcast that supports Tate.
Andrew Tate, 38, a former professional kickboxer, and his brother, 36, had been under a travel ban since their arrest alongside two Romanian women on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal organization to sexually exploit women.
In August, Diicot launched a second investigation into alleged crimes, including forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, engaging in sexual relations with a minor, and money laundering.
The Tates were among six individuals taken into custody at that time, with authorities later placing them under house arrest. The brothers and their alleged accomplices have denied all charges in both cases.
Andrew Tate Lands in US
The Tates are also wanted by authorities in the United Kingdom, where officials have filed an extradition request over allegations of sexual aggression in a case dating back to 2012. However, a Romanian court has ruled that legal proceedings in Romania must be completed before extradition can take place.
Four British women who have accused Andrew Tate of sexual abuse released a joint statement expressing their distress upon learning that he had left Romania.
“It is clear that he will now not face criminal prosecution for his alleged crimes in Romania,” they stated. “He will use it as an opportunity to harass further and intimidate witnesses and his accusers, and he will continue to spread his violent, misogynistic doctrine around the world.”
The women had previously warned that the U.S. government might influence Romania to ease travel restrictions on the brothers. The Financial Times reported that Washington had raised the Tates’ case with Romanian authorities.
Their lawyer, Matthew Jury, told the BBC that the women had suffered “the most horrible and horrific alleged crimes … And to see the most powerful man in the world support their alleged abuser is incredibly traumatising.”
Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu confirmed that Trump’s special envoy, Richard Grenell, discussed the Tates’ travel ban with him during this month’s Munich Security Conference.
Hurezeanu stated that Grenell expressed “interest in the fate of the Tate brothers,” but he emphasized that there was “no form of pressure, no threat” from the U.S. government, adding, “things are perfectly clear as far as we are concerned.”
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu also denied that the U.S. had made any requests regarding “the legal situation of well-known foreign influencers investigated by Romanian authorities,” stating that no such discussions took place during or after the conversation.
Andrew Tate has been banned from multiple social media platforms for his misogynistic rhetoric and hate speech but still maintains more than 10 million followers on X. He uses the platform to promote an ultra-masculine lifestyle, which critics argue degrades women.
In its second case against the Tates, Diicot has alleged that the brothers employed the “loverboy” method—manipulating victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship—to coerce 34 women into producing pornography, which was then sold online for nearly $3 million (£2.1 million).
The agency further claims that one of the defendants forced a 17-year-old to create pornographic content in both Britain and Romania, generating $1.5 million in revenue. Additionally, Diicot alleges that the defendant repeatedly engaged in sexual relations with a 15-year-old.
