Andrew Tate's Home Raided By Police

Romanian police raided the home of online personality Andrew Tate Wednesday morning, reports say.

Representatives for Tate, a self-described misogynist and internet personality, told Reuters that the raid related to an investigation into human trafficking charges against Tate and his brother Tristan. Both have denied wrongdoing.

British-US former professional kickboxer and controversial influencer Andrew Tate (C) is led by police officers to the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania on March 12, 2024, following his and his brother's arrest over UK... British-US former professional kickboxer and controversial influencer Andrew Tate (C) is led by police officers to the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania on March 12, 2024, following his and his brother's arrest over UK sex offence charges. DANIEL MIHAILESCU/Getty Images Entertainment/GC Images

The Context

Tate, a 37-year-old American-British former kickboxer, accumulated a fan base of millions of people by advocating an ultra-masculine lifestyle. In August 2022 he was banned from Facebook and Instagram for violating their hate speech policy.

He and his brother were indicted in Romania in June 2023 on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a gang to sexually exploit women, along with two Romanian female suspects Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel, Reuters reported at the time.

The next day, four U.K.-based women filed a civil suit against Tate in June 2023, accusing him of crimes including rape, physical violence and coercive control between 2013 and 2016.

One of them told Newsweek at the time that she can't watch him "get away with what he's done again and again."

She said, "It is torture trying to live my life with constant reminders from work colleagues, friends online, the radio, the hairdressers, basically anyone randomly mentioning his name. This isn't supposed to happen. The person who put you through the worst time of your life, who you tried to stop hurting others 10 years ago, isn't supposed to become famous online."

On July 5, a court ruled that Tate was allowed to travel within the European Union without restrictions while he awaits trial. However, a court overturned the decision on July 16, stating that Tate is not allowed to leave Romania while his trial remains pending.

What We Know

Per Reuters, DIICOT said on Wednesday that the investigation concerned "a criminal case regarding the commission of the crimes of setting up an organized criminal group, trafficking of minors, human trafficking, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements and money laundering."

Authorities added that they had conducted four home search warrants within Ilfov county and the Bucharest municipality.

Tate's representatives reportedly told Reuters in a statement, "Although the allegations in the search warrant are not yet fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering. The brothers' legal team is present to ensure that all formalities are carried out correctly."

Newsweek has reached out to representatives of Andrew Tate for further comment.

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