Andrew Tate was indicted for the alleged sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old in Romania. Tristan Tate, 38, was charged with complicity. File Photo by Robert Ghement/EPA-EFE
Sept. 4 (UPI) — Embattled influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate faced new charges in Romania related to trafficking and sexual acts with a minor, prosecutors said Friday.
Andrew, 39, was indicted for the alleged sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl that the brothers moved from Britain to Romania. Tristan, 38, was charged with complicity and attempted obstruction of justice.
Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism said in a statement the charges also include money laundering and pornography involving a minor.
The brothers are accused of luring a 15-year-old girl from Britain and coercing her into producing pornographic content through physical violence and psychological manipulation.
Prosecutors said the brothers used emotional blackmail, threats, physical aggression and constant surveillance to control the victim and make her produce sexual video chats to sell online.
They earned more than $1.25 million by selling the child pornography content, prosecutors said.
A Romanian lawyer for the brothers, Eugen Constantin Vidineac, denied the allegations.
“We will examine every aspect of it with the same level of scrutiny and we will challenge any evidential, procedural or legal deficiencies through the appropriate judicial process,” the lawyer told Newsweek.
“Our clients continue to reject the allegations against them,” he added. “They have the right to the presumption of innocence, the right to properly examine the evidence relied upon against them and the right to mount an effective defense.”
The new charges come as the brothers sit in a U.S. jail while they fight extradition to Britain, where they were charged in July with rape, human trafficking and child pornography.
The Tate brothers, who hold dual British-American citizenship, have twice been charged with sex crimes in each Romania and Britain.
They are former kickboxers with millions of followers on social media.
A federal judge in Miami is yet to make a ruling on the Britain’s request for extradition after the brothers appeared in court on Aug. 27.