Romanian Court Delays Trial Against Tate Brothers Due to Procedural Issues

A Bucharest court has sent the human trafficking case involving Andrew and Tristan Tate back to prosecutors for further amendments, marking a significant setback for the prosecution as the brothers continue to deny all charges.

A Romanian court is pressing pause on the proceedings against Andrew and Tristan Tate, controversial influencers facing allegations of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women. On Thursday, the Court of Appeals in Bucharest ruled that the current case cannot advance to trial and has instructed prosecutors to revisit the charges. This decision marks the second time that the court has returned the case for review, giving prosecutors just five days to adjust the indictment or dismiss the case altogether.

The Tates, aged 37 and 36, are accused of orchestrating a scheme to exploit women through their adult content business, which authorities allege operated as a criminal enterprise. Alongside the brothers, two female Romanian associates were also included in the indictment that surfaced in June of last year, involving seven alleged victims. The court previously identified "irregularities" in the indictment last November, ruling that certain evidence should be excluded, including some statements made by alleged victims.

Following the court's ruling, Andrew Tate, who has built a controversial persona online often associated with misogynistic views, issued a statement claiming, “They’ve had years to build their case—years to tear apart my life—and yet, they have nothing.” He vowed to fight against the charges, insisting on his innocence. Tristan echoed these sentiments, questioning the lack of evidence to proceed even after years of investigations.

As the brothers continue to navigate these legal challenges, Romania's public prosecutor's office, DIICOT, has not yet commented on the recent ruling. Additional complications arise from a separate investigation launched against the Tates in August concerning new accusations, including trafficking minors and money laundering. The brothers are also facing extradition requests from the UK amid ongoing allegations of rape and human trafficking, which they vehemently deny.