Tate brothers fly to Florida in private jet from Romania

Authorities in Bucharest suddenly lift travel ban although governor Ron DeSantis says pair are not welcome in his state

- JABED AHMED, ALASTAIR JAMIESON

Social media influencer and self-described misogynist Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan landed in Florida yesterday after leaving Romania where they face trial on charges of rape and human trafficking.

The pair flew into Fort Lauderdale and straight into a political storm after state governor Ron DeSantis said they were not welcome.

Speaking to reporters outside Fort Lauderdale airport, Andrew Tate said: “We live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty and I think my brother and I are largely misunderstood. We’ve yet to be convicted of any crime in our lives, ever, we have no criminal record anywhere on the planet, ever.

“Our case was dismissed on the 19th of December in Romania under the Biden administration, and our prosecutor recently decided, because we have no active indictment in court, to let us go and return. This is a democratic society.”

He did not comment on why they had gone to Florida, or if Donald Trump had helped get their travel ban lifted. Mr Trump was asked about the brothers during his Oval Office meeting with Sir Keir Starmer. The prime minister said he would raise the issue with the US president, who himself said he knew nothing of the case.