Andrew and Tristan Tate will fight extradition to UK, brothers' lawyer says

Andrew and Tristan Tate will fight extradition to the UK, their lawyer has said, after the brothers appeared in court for the first time since their arrest on rape and sex trafficking charges.

The controversial social media influencers appeared in a federal court in Miami on Monday following their arrest on Saturday over a UK extradition request.

British authorities have brought 38 new charges against the pair, who have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Andrew, 39, has been charged with seven further counts of rape and several trafficking and assault offences, while Tristan, 38, is charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and trafficking offences.

Andrew has also been charged with offences relating to "indecent images of a child and extreme pornography".

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had identified four additional alleged victims. It said the 38 additional charges, in addition to 21 existing charges, relate to alleged offences between July 2010 and August 2017.

The brothers have previously denied allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking, claiming that violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context or were intended as jokes.

Speaking outside court, Mr McBride suggested the Tates' case "had a lot to do with" Sir Keir Starmer's decision to step down as prime minister and said it was no coincidence that the brothers were arrested after meeting "friends in Washington, DC".

Describing the further charges as "salacious and defamatory", he said: "Some of them are despicable, meritless, heinous and atrocious. They're designed to poison the jury pool, to re-poison public consciousness."

Mr McBride also raised the possibility of US President Donald Trump intervening in the extradition proceedings, arguing "he was elected to fight against this kind of nonsense".

He said the pair "remain positive" after speaking to them on Monday.

Before the hearing, he dismissed the case as a "political witch hunt", calling the charges "filth and slander". On Sunday, Mr McBride said he was confident the extradition request would be denied.

Legal proceedings would take around 60 days, Mr McBride said.

The brothers, normally photographed in tailored suits and stylish fitted shirts, wore tan jail uniforms and handcuffs during the brief hearing.

Magistrate Lauren Louis set another hearing for next Monday.

While a US district judge can consider whether conditions are met for extradition, the ultimate decision falls to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The State Department could deny, but it has granted nearly every British request since ratifying a strengthened extradition treaty in 2007.

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It's the latest chapter in the brothers' long-running international legal saga that has spanned the US, Britain and Romania.

The brothers, who are US and British citizens, have built a social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny, which has made them among the world's most polarising internet personalities.

Arrested in Romania in 2022, they were accused of participating in schemes to lure women for sexual exploitation, allegations they deny.

(c) Sky News 2026: Andrew and Tristan Tate will fight extradition to UK, brothers' lawyer says