MIAMI (AP) \u2014 Social media influencers\u00a0Andrew and Tristan Tate\u00a0must remain in custody as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking, a federal judge in Miami ruled Wednesday.<\/p>\n
U.S. Magistrate Lauren Louis denied a defense motion for release, meaning the Tates will remain jailed during what could be a monthslong extradition process. The Tates failed to demonstrate that they do not present a flight risk or danger to the community or that special circumstances warrant their release, Louis said in her ruling.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving failed to meet these three factors, Respondents\u2019 Motion for Release Pending Extradition Proceedings is DENIED,\u201d she said in the ruling.<\/p>\n
The Tates\u2019 attorneys decry the decision<\/p>\n
The Tates\u2019 legal team said in a statement that the decision to keep them in custody creates a legal contradiction. The brothers are being detained in the United States because of a British extradition request while simultaneously being required to defend themselves against charges in Romania, the statement said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are now facing an extraordinary situation in which they are being held thousands of miles from Romania while Romanian proceedings continue, deadlines approach, an additional indictment is said to be imminent and their own Romanian lawyer says he cannot properly prepare,\u201d the lawyers said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo serious person can pretend that this can be reviewed properly through occasional conversations from a federal detention center in another country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The attorneys said they are considering whether to appeal the judge\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n
The Tates have become among the world\u2019s most polarizing internet personalities with their promotion of wealth, male dominance and misogyny through their social media empire. Prosecutors say the brothers are a flight risk because they appear to have money and have bragged about multiple passports.<\/p>\n
The brothers\u2019 face charges in multiple countries<\/p>\n
During a\u00a0hearing last month\u00a0in Miami, the brothers denied criminal accusations spanning several countries, blasted their critics and described their brash online personas as characters and not their true personalities. The Tates said they exaggerate their claims of wealth to boost their clout on social media.<\/p>\n
The new allegations are the latest in the Tates\u2019 long-running international legal saga spanning the U.S., Britain and Romania. They have been held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami since\u00a0making a brief court appearance\u00a0two days after\u00a0their July 18 arrest.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for the Tates asked the judge to allow them to be freed from custody at least until an extradition hearing can be held on their U.K. rape and trafficking charges.<\/p>\n
They have repeatedly argued that Britain\u2019s request is out of line because their criminal case in\u00a0Romania\u00a0is going first. Romanian officials have let the brothers remain free until the proceedings conclude, and they have not tried to flee and are complying with all court restrictions. Earlier this month, Romanian prosecutors\u00a0indicted the brothers\u00a0on additional charges.<\/p>\n
Andrew Tate is banned from some social platforms<\/p>\n
Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, are dual U.S.-British citizens known for their social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny.<\/p>\n
Andrew Tate is a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers, most of them boys and young men, on X. He has been banned from platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram for violating hate speech guidelines.<\/p>\n