A lawyer for social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate urged a US judge on Thursday to release the brothers on bail from a Miami jail. The brothers are contesting extradition to Britain, where they are wanted on rape charges.
Howard Srebnick, representing the Tate brothers, told US magistrate judge Lauren Louis in Miami that their regular court appearances in Romania, where they are on pre-trial release, demonstrate they are not a flight risk. Srebnick stated that the brothers have been "fully compliant with their conditions of release."
Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 38, were arrested in Miami on 18 July after Britain requested their extradition to face charges of rape, assault, and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation. The brothers, who hold dual US and British citizenship, have denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors from the Miami US attorney’s office argued against bail in an August 10 court filing, citing a strong presumption in favour of detention in international extradition cases. They also suggested the Tates could pose a danger to the community if released, referencing British authorities' allegations of strangling victims during rapes and the possibility of flight.
The prosecutors also highlighted allegations from Romanian authorities, where the brothers face human-trafficking charges, that they tried to influence witness statements while under judicial supervision. Romanian authorities reportedly claim the Tates threatened to release private information about alleged victims and bribed an alleged victim, according to US prosecutors.
The brothers' defence lawyers have proposed conditions for release, including posting bond, surrendering passports, and submitting to location monitoring. They argue that the Tates' "extraordinary public visibility" would make fleeing impractical.
The legal process for determining extradition could take several months. British prosecutors have until 16 September to submit a full extradition request to the state department.