An American woman has filed a lawsuit against online influencers Tristan and Andrew Tate, accusing them of luring her to Romania and conspiring to coerce her into sex work, as well as defaming her after she testified to Romanian authorities. This civil complaint marks the first legal action against the Tate brothers in the United States.
The lawsuit details the allegations that led to the brothers' arrest in Romania in 2022, which include serious charges such as human trafficking, money laundering, and sex crimes. The Tate brothers have denied all accusations, asserting that their wealth and public persona have made them targets.
In 2023, the brothers filed a defamation lawsuit against the woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, claiming that she and another woman conspired to defraud and falsely imprison them by providing fabricated evidence to authorities. They argue that this information contributed to their arrests on trafficking charges.
The new complaint, submitted to the Circuit Court in Palm Beach County, Florida, alleges that the Tate brothers' defamation lawsuit is an attempt to intimidate and harass Ms. Doe into retracting her testimony. Ms. Doe, now 23, and her parents have been granted anonymity due to safety concerns, as she fears potential harm from the Tate brothers or their followers.
Ms. Doe expressed her anticipation for the court proceedings, emphasizing her belief in the importance of evidence and facts in determining the outcome. Meanwhile, a lawyer for the Tate brothers dismissed the claims, stating that there is no evidence of human trafficking and asserting confidence in their legal standing.
According to the complaint, Ms. Doe met Tristan Tate online in 2021 and subsequently traveled to Romania in 2022, where she felt the situation was abnormal and expressed concerns about being lured under false pretenses. Another woman, referred to as Mary Doe, also reported coercive behavior from Andrew Tate upon her arrival in Romania.
The Tate brothers have pointed to surveillance footage and text messages as evidence of the women's consent and alleged conspiracy against them. However, Ms. Doe contends that she and Mary Doe intended to escape to report the criminal activities they witnessed.
Following Ms. Doe's communication with her family, the U.S. Embassy in Romania was alerted to her situation, leading to a raid on a Tate-owned compound. In December 2022, the brothers were arrested on charges related to human trafficking and organized crime, while their legal battles continue in Romania and Britain.
A Romanian court recently blocked Andrew Tate's case from going to trial, citing violations of his right to a defense. The Romanian authorities are still investigating separate allegations against the brothers, which include trafficking minors and money laundering. Following the resolution of these cases, the brothers are expected to be extradited to Britain to face additional sex crime charges.