Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate will remain behind bars for now after appearing in federal court in Miami Monday, where they formally began fighting the United Kingdom’s bid to extradite the controversial brothers on dozens of charges, including rape and human trafficking.
During the brief hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis informed the brothers they were being held on a provisional arrest warrant from the U.K. and that extradition proceedings were already underway.
The judge later scheduled a status hearing for July 27 as the brothers prepare to challenge both the extradition request and whether they should remain in custody while the case moves forward.
Attorney Joseph McBride told reporters that the brothers are innocent and said he does not expect them to be released.
FBI BRINGS ALLEGED CHINA-LINKED HACKER TO US IN RARE EXTRADITION AS PATEL DEFENDS ITALY TRIP
“There will be a series of hearings,” McBride said of the extradition process.
Andrew and Tristan Tate appeared wearing gray jail uniforms and shackles and each responded, “Yes, your honor,” when Judge Louis advised them of their rights.
The judge also explained that the proceeding was an extradition matter, not a criminal trial, and that the brothers would not be required to attend every hearing.
The brothers were arrested in Miami over the weekend after British authorities announced 38 additional charges involving four additional alleged victims.
Andrew Tate, 39, faces seven additional rape counts, as well as charges related to sex trafficking and indecent images of a child. Tristan Tate, 38, faces charges including two rape counts and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.
British police said the new allegations bring the total number of charges against the brothers to 59. The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between July 2010 and August 2017.
“We have decided to prosecute Andrew and Tristan Tate for further offenses including rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and offences relating to indecent images of a child,” Malcolm McHaffie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said.
DOCTOR INDICTED ON 81 NEW SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES IN CASE INVOLVING DOZENS OF VICTIMS
The Tate brothers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, have denied wrongdoing.
They also face separate criminal proceedings in Romania, where authorities have been investigating them since December 2022.
“I want to make it clear there is no place for male violence against women and girls in our society and we will continue to work tirelessly to support victims and investigate all reports made to us,” said assistant chief constable Karena Thomas, lead for Britain’s Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit.
FORMER PRINCE ANDREW UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT WITH WOMAN AT ROYAL ASCOT
The brothers have built a large online following promoting their views on masculinity and wealth, while Andrew Tate has previously described himself as a misogynist.
Andrew Tate is additionally due to face a civil trial in Britain brought by four women who accuse him of physical and sexual abuse.
The four claimants, who have been granted anonymity, allege Tate subjected them to physical or sexual violence between 2013 and 2015. Two say they were in an intimate relationship with Tate, while two worked for his online webcam business.
Andrew Tate denies those allegations. In his written defense, his lawyers said the claims are false and that all sexual activity was consensual.
Fox News’ Andre Tinoco and Reuters contributed to this report.
