A criminal investigation into online influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan has been initiated in Florida, according to the state attorney general on Tuesday.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution “to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas,” in what he is calling a “now-active criminal investigation” into the brothers, he said on social media.
In a video posted by a Scripps reporter for CNN affiliate WTXL, Uthmeier says the Tate brothers have “publicly admitted” to what appears to be “preying upon women” around the world.
“People can spin or defend however they want, but in Florida, this type of behavior is viewed as atrocious,” he said in the video. “They chose to come here and set their feet down in this state and we’re going to pursue every tool we have within our legal authority to hold them accountable.”
A spokesperson for the brothers had no comment when reached by CNN on Tuesday.
Andrew Tate took to X to express his “disappointment” at the development, after he and his brother were allowed to leave Romania last week following their arrest in 2022.
“Insanity,” his post reads. “I am super disappointed in the United States. This isn’t the America I know. This is a sad sad day for America. Trying to find crimes on an innocent man.”
Tate, who has been accused of peddling hateful views online and making his controversial lifestyle appealing to young and vulnerable audiences, is a US-born professional fighter-turned-media personality who has garnered billions of views online with his rants about male dominance, female submission, and wealth.
He first gained notoriety in 2016 when he was removed from the British version of reality TV show “Big Brother” after video emerged that appeared to show him attacking a woman with a belt.
In the years since, he has become a divisive online content creator who was at
