UK prosecutors have lodged a formal request for the extradition of brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate from the US to face charges including rape and sex trafficking. The US State Department received the requests last week and will review them for compliance with the existing agreement between the two countries.
The brothers are facing a total of 59 charges in the UK. These include rape, counts relating to sex trafficking, and indecent images of a child. Both men deny any wrongdoing.
Joe McBride, the brothers' lawyer, stated he would challenge the requests, arguing they were not backed by the necessary information under the extradition agreement. He also claimed the brothers had not received the extradition requests or supporting documents.
US authorities took the men into custody in July after the UK announced new charges. The brothers lost a bid for bail from a Florida jail last week and will remain in jail during the legal process.