Romania adds hate speech charges to Andrew Tate probe

Romania’s anti-organized crime directorate, DIICOT, expanded its investigation into Andrew Tate to include incitement to hatred and discrimination against women, according to Reuters.usnews
The brothers already face Romanian charges of human trafficking, sexual acts with minors, and money laundering, and 21 criminal charges in the UK including rape.nytimes
A Bucharest court lifted judicial controls on the Tates in April, but prosecutors continue pursuing the underlying criminal case across three countries.reuters

Andrew Tate Faces New Hate Speech Charges in Romania

Romanian prosecutors on Thursday expanded their criminal investigation into internet personality Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, adding charges of instigating hatred and discrimination against women based on speeches made on social media between 2021 and 2024.usnews

Romania’s anti-organized crime directorate, DIICOT, “has mandated the continuation of investigations regarding the charge of sustained incitement to hatred or discrimination,” prosecutors said in an official statement, according to Reuters.usnews

A Widening Legal Web

The Tate brothers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, have been under investigation in Romania since December 2022 on allegations of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, engaging in sexual acts with minors, and money laundering. Andrew Tate also faces a separate accusation of rape in Romania. Both brothers have denied all wrongdoing.cnn

The hate speech charges add another layer to an already complex set of legal proceedings that have yet to reach trial. In April, a Bucharest court lifted remaining judicial control measures against the brothers, removing requirements such as regular police check-ins, a ruling the Tates celebrated as a victory. But that procedural win did little to reduce the scale of legal challenges still facing them, as prosecutors continue to pursue the underlying criminal case.reuters

Charges Mounting Across Borders

The expanded Romanian investigation comes as the brothers also face charges in the United Kingdom. The Crown Prosecution Service disclosed in May 2025 that it had authorized 21 criminal charges against the pair, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking, and controlling prostitution for profit. Andrew Tate faces 10 of those charges involving three alleged victims, while Tristan faces 11 charges connected to one complainant. British authorities have said the brothers would be extradited to the UK after the Romanian proceedings conclude.nytimes

Political Dimensions

The brothers’ legal saga has also taken on political dimensions. A New York Times investigation in December 2025 detailed how the Tates built alliances with members of the Trump family and other figures on the American right, efforts that the Times found played a role in the lifting of their Romanian travel ban earlier that year. A UK police force also announced in March 2026 that it would reopen a separate rape and sexual assault investigation into Andrew Tate.youtube

With criminal proceedings now spanning three countries and encompassing allegations ranging from trafficking to hate speech, the Tate brothers face what one outlet described as “mounting legal charges on three fronts.”searchlightmagazine