Key facts
- Brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate were denied release from a Miami jail.
- They are contesting extradition to Britain to face charges including rape and assault.
- Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis denied bail, citing concerns about danger to the community and flight risk.
- Prosecutors highlighted allegations of violence and witness tampering.
- Britain must submit its full extradition request by September 16.
Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have lost their bid to be released from a Miami jail while they fight extradition to Britain, where they face charges including rape, assault, and facilitating sexual exploitation. Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis denied bail for the brothers on Wednesday, citing a strong presumption in favor of detention in international extradition cases and allegations that they could pose a danger to the community and attempt to flee.
Prosecutors highlighted British authorities' claims that the Tates strangled victims during forcible rapes and pointed to Romanian authorities' allegations of witness tampering, including threats to release private information and bribery. The brothers' defense lawyers argued that their high public visibility would make fleeing impractical and proposed release on bond, surrender of passports, and location monitoring, asserting their compliance record demonstrated they were not a danger.
The arrests in Miami on July 18 followed a request from Britain, which has until September 16 to submit its full extradition request to the State Department. The British charges relate to alleged offenses involving four victims between July 2010 and August 2017, in addition to previous charges in Britain concerning three alleged victims. The Tates, who have dual U.S. and British citizenship, have denied all wrongdoing.
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