Andrew and Tristan Tate's lawyer says they'll fight extradition to the UK after US arrests
Andrew and Tristan Tate’s lawyer has said they will fight their extradition to the UK after the brothers were arrested in the US on Saturday (18 July).
The social media influencers, who hold dual US and UK citizenship, were arrested in Miami by US Marshals after British authorities issued 38 new charges against them.
Andrew Tate, 39, was charged with seven further counts of rape, three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and 19 additional charges for offences relating to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.
His brother Tristan, 38, was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.
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The CPS said the 38 additional charges, in addition to 21 existing charges, relate to alleged offences between July 2010 and August 2017.
Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Karena Thomas said: “Officers from our major crime unit have been working closely alongside the Crown Prosecution Service and both national and international law enforcement agencies as part of this complex investigation.
“We understand the interest that this case will generate, but we would urge the public not to speculate and to allow the legal process to be carried out correctly.
“There is no place for male violence against women and girls, and we will continue to work tirelessly to support victims and investigate all reports made to us.”
Announcing the new charges, Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Special Crime Division at the CPS, said: “We have decided to prosecute Andrew and Tristan Tate for further offences including rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and offences relating to indecent images of a child.
"These charging decisions followed receipt of a further file of evidence from Bedfordshire Police and bring the total number of alleged victims in this case to seven.
“The CPS has requested the extradition of the Tates from the US. They have been arrested and await extradition proceedings to the UK.”
Yesterday (Monday 20 July), the pair appeared at a courthouse in Miami wearing tan coloured jail uniforms and handcuffs marking the start of the extradition proceedings.
In the coming weeks, a US district judge will consider whether they meet the conditions for extradition.
Speaking outside of court, their lawyer Joe McBride said: “We are of course objecting to extradition because Andrew and Tristan are innocent.
“They've never done anything wrong. They shouldn't be extradited for crimes they did not commit.”
The brothers have previously denied any wrongdoing.
McBride also appeared to suggest that President Donald Trump could get involved in the case.
He added: “I can’t comment directly on what my president is going to do. All I can say is he was elected to fight against this kind of nonsense, and I can’t see him looking at this with an objective lens and agreeing to a political witch hunt and a political kidnapping.”
McBride told reporters he expected the legal proceedings process to take around 60 days.
“Could be a little longer. It could be a little shorter, depending on how it shakes out for us. But I think for the foreseeable future, we’re in this for the next two months,” he said.
Claire Reid