Andrew Tate’s alleged victims ‘concerned’ at US interference reports

Four women at the centre of Andrew Tate’s Romanian human trafficking case have issued a statement over “distressing” reports.

Four women who were allegedly sexually abused by influencer Andrew Tate have slammed reported moves from the US government to interfere in the case.

Tate, 38, and his brother Tristan, 36, are awaiting trial in Romania over charges of rape, trafficking minors and money laundering after first being arrested in 2022.

The brothers deny the allegations and have been banned from leaving the eastern European country while the case is on foot.

Social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested as part of an investigation into human trafficking and rape. Picture: Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images

On Wednesday, local time, a lawyer representing the four alleged victims said they were “extremely concerned” at reports US officials had asked Romania to relax travel restrictions against the brothers.

Matthew Jury told the BBC the women were “absolutely bewildered why the Trump administration has decided to interfere in this way”.

According to the Financial Times, US President Mr Trump’s administration brought up the Tate’s case with Romanian authorities last week, calling for Bucharest to return the passports of both brothers.

The Tates hold both US and UK nationality.

Andrew Tate was held in detention after his arrest. Picture: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Tate, 38, is known for his misogynistic views.

Romanian prosecutors allege that former kickboxer Andrew, his brother and two women set up a criminal organisation in early 2021 in Romania and Britain, and sexually exploited several victims.

The alleged victims, who are bringing a civil case against Tate at the High Court in the UK accusing him of rape and coercive control between 2013 and 2016, are worried any relaxation to the Tates’ travel restrictions could allow them to flee justice.

“We hope that the Romanian and the UK authorities will be left alone to do their jobs,” the alleged victims said in a statement.

Tristan Tate is brought in for questioning by the Romanian gendarmes in August 2024. Picture: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday the US has “not made any requests” over the brothers’ “legal situation”.

But Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu confirmed Mr Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell raised the case with him at the Munich Security Conference last week, Romanian media reported.

Mr Jury, who is representing the four women in the UK, said he found “the development, if true, equally bizarre and outrageous”.

“It would be embarrassing for the UK government and a complete abdication of its responsibility to the victims if it stands by and lets this continue,” he said, adding the women were “absolutely distraught”.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Picture: Andrei Pungovschi/AFP

US diplomat Richard Grenell. Picture: Odd Andersen/AFP

Andrew Tate moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in the UK.

He leapt to fame in 2016 when he first appeared on the UK’s Big Brother reality television show, but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman.

He then turned to social media platforms to promote his often misogynistic and divisive views on how to be successful.

A Romanian court has granted a British request to extradite the Tates, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.

Robert Jenrick, the UK’s shadow foreign secretary, on Tuesday said the Tate brothers “must face our justice system”.

Originally published as Andrew Tate’s alleged victims ‘concerned’ at US interference reports