Andrew and Tristan Tate’s UK legal team has announced plans to challenge a British bid to extradite the brothers from the United States through a formal judicial review process.
British prosecutors earlier this month lodged a formal request with the US State Department to bring the pair to the UK to face rape and sex trafficking charges.
US Magistrate Lauren Louis denied a defense motion for release, meaning both brothers must remain in custody in Miami throughout what could be a lengthy extradition process.
Andrew Ford and Adam Rasul of defense solicitors Holborn Adams argue the brothers should first face separate criminal proceedings in Romania before any UK extradition is considered.
Speaking to Piers Morgan, defense lawyer Andrew Ford said: “We have started a process of judicial review to challenge the UK’s decision to seek extradition.”
Ford also stated: “In March 2024, Romania made an order to agree to extradition back to the UK, but once Romanian proceedings are concluded.”
Ford further argued that pursuing UK extradition while Romanian proceedings remain ongoing would “deprive them of their opportunity to be exonerated” and “impact upon their ability to be able to defend themselves in the UK.”
A judicial review allows a court to examine whether a decision made by a public body was reached lawfully and in accordance with proper procedure.
The US State Department is currently reviewing the UK’s extradition applications to confirm they comply with the existing treaty between London and Washington before forwarding them to the Justice Department.
An official State Department letter details that Andrew Tate, 39, is wanted in the UK on 10 counts of rape, three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation, and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Andrew Tate also faces accusations of making and distributing indecent images of a child, as well as possession of extreme pornography, according to the State Department documentation.
Charges against Tristan Tate, 38, include five counts of rape, six counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, three counts of sex trafficking, and one count of sexual assault.
The brothers’ US attorney, Joe McBride, said he would challenge the extradition requests, arguing they lacked sufficient supporting information under the terms of the US-UK extradition agreement.
Romanian authorities separately charged Andrew Tate with complicity in trafficking a minor and money laundering, while Tristan Tate was indicted for complicity in trafficking minors and money laundering.
Both brothers deny any wrongdoing across all charges filed against them in both the United Kingdom and Romania.
