Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is trying to ban the Tate Brothers from Sunshine, he told reporters Thursday.
The governor responded to media reports that Andrew and Tristan Tate (facing rape and trafficking accusations) left Romania after their travel restrictions were lifted while they awaited trial. They then came to Florida.
“Romanian prosecutors allege that former kickboxer Tate, 38, his brother Tristan, 36, two women founded criminal organizations in Romania and the UK in early 2021, sexually exploiting several victims,” the AFP reported.
“We're not involved in that,” DeSantis said. “I read about it through the media. Obviously, the federal government has jurisdiction over whether he wants to refuse entry to the United States. [Attorney General] Pam Bondi or [Homeland Security Secretary] Christie Noem, they're watching it. ”
DeSantis also told reporters that Florida Attorney General James Usmierer “sees the state's jurisdiction that has to be addressed.”
“But the reality is, Florida isn't the place you welcome it. That's what it is,” DeSantis said.
“I don't know how this came. We weren't involved. We weren't informed. Through the media, we knew this was what was going on,” he added.
The pair, who have double citizenship, reportedly landed in Fort Lauderdale Thursday morning. As ABC News It has been reported“The brothers have been trapped in Romania since late 2022 when they were arrested for human trafficking, sexual abuse, money laundering and the formation of organized criminal groups.”
They are expected to return to Romania to appear before court.
