Rep. Ansari, RM Raskin Demand Answers on Trump Administration’s Efforts to Help Tate Brothers Evade Rape and Sex Trafficking Charges as They Face Extradition to U.K.

Lawmakers Press Blanche and Rubio to Disclose Intervention and Answer Whether Administration Will Honor Extradition Requests

WASHINGTON -- Today, Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee are demanding answers from Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the Trump Administration's reported efforts to help Andrew and Tristan Tate evade criminal charges and whether it will comply with the United Kingdom's request to extradite the brothers to face rape and sex trafficking charges. The longtime Trump supporters remain in federal custody and face a stunning 59 criminal charges in the United Kingdom.

"Despite the looming prosecutions, the Tate brothers have continued to accumulate new criminal accusations and charges since returning to the U.S. [...] However, given the Trump Administration's reported willingness to intervene both internationally and domestically on the Tate brothers' behalf as they face serious criminal charges involving violent crimes and given the failure of any official to provide substantive responses to Ranking Member Raskin's previous correspondence, we remain skeptical that the Administration will sit on the sidelines rather than jump into the game to help the Tates," wrote the lawmakers.

The brothers have continued to face new allegations of sexual violence and trafficking since returning to the United States. Less than two weeks after their arrival, Andrew allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Bri Stern, in Los Angeles; reported text messages show him repeatedly telling her he wanted to hit and beat her and that she deserved it. Former right-wing influencer Lauren Southern also accused Andrew of choking and assaulting her in a Bucharest hotel room in 2018. The brothers were arrested in Miami in July 2026 after British authorities issued 38 additional charges, including nine additional rape counts between them, bringing the total to 59. Romanian prosecutors subsequently announced a second indictment, charging Andrew with trafficking minors, money laundering, sex with a minor and witness tampering, and Tristan with complicity in those alleged crimes.

Rep. Ansari called on House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer on July 23 to investigate the Tate brothers' ties to the Trump Administration. Chairman Comer has not responded.

Ranking Member Raskin first sought answers in April 2025 about Administration pressure on Romania to lift the brothers' court-imposed travel restrictions. No Trump Administration official provided a substantive response. Instead, Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell called Judiciary Committee Minority staff to complain about the inquiry, which highlighted reports that he raised the Tates' case with Romanian officials at the Munich Security Conference.

Subsequent reporting exposed further efforts by a Trump Administration official to help the brothers. ProPublica reported that White House official Paul Ingrassia, a former lawyer for the brothers, urged senior Department of Homeland Security officials to return electronic devices seized from them when they entered the United States in February 2025. Ingrassia denied intervening. Andrew Tate also reportedly cultivated a relationship with President Trump's son Barron, with the two allegedly agreeing that the Romanian criminal case was an attempt to silence the brothers.

Reps. Ansari and Raskin are requesting disclosure of any consultations, communications or directives from Justice Department leadership concerning the extradition proceedings, including contacts with the prosecutors handling the case. They also seek an accounting of U.S. efforts to lift the Romanian travel restrictions, whether the Tates' support for Trump influenced those efforts, and records of government engagement with Romanian officials, British officials and the brothers' attorneys since January 20, 2025.

Click here to read the letter.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share