LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been arrested in the United States alongside his brother, Tristan Tate, after British prosecutors approved dozens of new criminal charges, paving the way for extradition proceedings to the United Kingdom.
The arrests came after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized 38 additional charges against the brothers, significantly expanding the case already being investigated by Bedfordshire Police.
According to the CPS, Andrew Tate now faces seven more counts of rape, alongside additional allegations linked to sex trafficking and indecent images of a child.
Tristan Tate on the other hand, has been charged with two further counts of rape and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The latest development brings the total number of charges against the brothers to 59.
The 39-year-old Andrew now faces 42 charges in the UK, while his 37-years-old brother, Tristan faces 17.
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The alleged offences are said to have occurred between July 2010 and August 2017, though both men have consistently denied all allegations.
The US Marshals confirmed that the brothers had been taken into custody, while a spokesperson for the US Department of Justice said the arrests were made “pursuant to extradition proceedings.”
Notably, British prosecutors stated that legal steps to return the dual British-American citizens to the UK would now begin.
Explaining the decision, Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the CPS Special Crime Division, reported that the latest charges followed a new evidence file submitted by Bedfordshire Police.
“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,” McHaffie said.
Authorities described the investigation as complex, noting that officers from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire police have spent years examining multiple allegations involving the brothers.
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Reacting to the arrests, the Tates’ lawyer, Joseph McBride, maintained their innocence, claiming the new charges were politically motivated.
“The world knows Andrew and Tristan are innocent. Their enemies know it best of all. That is exactly why they have been attacked,” McBride stated.
He further described the case as “a political hit,” arguing that the charges were intended to undermine a defamation lawsuit the brothers had filed in the United States.
“We are confident that once a competent judge sees the facts, and once the Department of Justice confronts this egregious abuse of its own authority, Andrew and Tristan Tate will walk free. America does not do Britain’s political dirty work,” he added.
The latest legal setback follows an unsuccessful court challenge in June, when the brothers failed to compel British prosecutors to reveal the identities of their UK accusers before formal legal proceedings began.
Meanwhile, lawyer Matt Jury, who represents several of Andrew Tate’s alleged British victims, welcomed the new charges, saying, “Andrew and Tristan Tate are accused of some of the most serious offences, including multiple counts of rape and human trafficking. It is time they face justice.”
The case is expected to move into the extradition process, with British authorities seeking to return the brothers to the UK to face the expanded list of criminal charges.
