NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, were arrested Saturday in Miami after U.S. Marshals took the controversial social media influencers into custody on a sealed warrant as British prosecutors announced dozens of new criminal charges and sought their extradition.
“Today, U.S. Marshals in the Southern District of Florida arrested Andrew and Tristan Tate pursuant to extradition proceedings,” a Justice Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “These arrests were made in accordance with the treaties and law enforcement agreements governing Justice Department extraditions.”
Bedfordshire Police also confirmed the brothers were arrested Saturday in Miami in connection with a U.K. police investigation into alleged sexual offenses dating back to 2012.
Photos and video published by TMZ appeared to show federal agents handcuffing the brothers outside the James L. Knight Center in downtown Miami, where Andrew Tate had been scheduled to appear at a bare-knuckle boxing event.
‘AMERICA’S MOST WANTED’ FUGITIVE CAPTURED ON SAILBOAT OFF NJ COAST AFTER 20 YEARS ON THE RUN
The arrests came hours after Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service announced it had approved a major expansion of the criminal case against the brothers. Bedfordshire Police said the new charges bring the total against the brothers to 59, with Andrew Tate facing 42 charges and Tristan Tate facing 17.
According to the CPS, Andrew Tate now faces additional charges including rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and offenses involving alleged indecent images of a child and extreme pornography. Prosecutors said Tristan Tate also faces additional rape, sexual assault and trafficking charges.
The CPS said the alleged crimes span from 2010 to 2017 and involve four additional alleged victims, bringing the total number of alleged victims in the U.K. case to seven.
“The CPS has requested the extradition of the Tates from the US,” Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said in a statement. “They have been arrested and await extradition proceedings to the UK.”
FBI BRINGS ALLEGED CHINA-LINKED HACKER TO US IN RARE EXTRADITION AS PATEL DEFENDS ITALY TRIP
A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital the charges stem from the United Kingdom and that the arrest warrant is expected to be unsealed to reveal the U.K. charges.
The brothers are expected to make an initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida early next week.
Assistant Chief Constable Karena Thomas of Bedfordshire Police said investigators had worked closely with prosecutors and international law enforcement agencies throughout the case. “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,” Thomas said.
Andrew and Tristan Tate have denied wrongdoing.
The brothers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, rose to fame as “manosphere” influencers, building millions of followers with content promoting hypermasculinity and male non-monogamy. They have denied criminal allegations filed against them in Romania and the United Kingdom.
Neither the U.S. Marshals Service nor the Justice Department has publicly identified the basis for Saturday’s sealed warrant, according to the AP.
The brothers’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to TMZ.
Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this reporting.
Read the full article here