A Romanian court on Monday lifted every preventative judicial control measure against Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. The brothers had been under various forms of restriction since December 2022, when anti-organized crime prosecutors first detained them.
Both are former kickboxers who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship. They have consistently denied all wrongdoing throughout the process.
The case began with accusations of human trafficking, among other charges. Initially, the brothers were held in police custody for months as a preventative measure. In 2023, the Bucharest court of appeals relaxed that to house arrest. Later, it was reduced further to regular check-ins with police. Now, even that obligation has been removed.
Defense calls the case “built on questionable evidence”
The Tates’ lead defense lawyer, Eugene Vidineac, wasted no time framing the ruling as vindication. He said the decision confirms what the defense had argued from the start — that the case rested on shaky ground.
He also pointed to a broader pattern. In 2024, the Bucharest court of appeals blocked prosecutors from sending the Tates to trial. Instead, it sent the case back for further investigation. Several pieces of evidence were thrown out as inadmissible, including initial testimonies from alleged victims.
“Today’s ruling restores a fundamental principle: that liberty cannot be restricted without solid legal grounds,” Vidineac added. He noted that nearly four years had passed since the restrictions began.
A second investigation is still open
Despite the court’s decision, the brothers are far from free of legal trouble. Prosecutors launched a second criminal investigation in 2024. This one targets the Tates and four other suspects on suspicion of forming an organized criminal group. The allegations also include human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, and money laundering.
Anti-organized crime prosecutors declined to comment on Monday’s ruling. By law, they cannot publicly discuss court decisions.
What comes next
The Tate brothers remain the highest-profile suspects facing human trafficking investigations in Romania. Additionally, a British arrest warrant hangs over them. A Romanian court has already ruled that they will be extradited to the U.K. once trial proceedings in Romania are concluded.
Andrew Tate, a self-described misogynist, has built a massive online following by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle. Critics argue his content consistently denigrates women. Regardless of Monday’s ruling, his legal saga is far from over.