A woman in the United States has filed a lawsuit against internet personalities Andrew and Tristan Tate, accusing them of conspiring to coerce her into sex work, luring her to Romania, and defaming her after she testified against them.
The civil complaint, filed in Florida on Monday, marks the first legal action against the Tate brothers in the U.S.
The Tates, who are already involved in legal battles in Romania and the UK, face allegations of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, and money laundering. They have denied all wrongdoing.
The woman, identified as “Jane Doe” in court documents, claims the Tates attempted to intimidate her by suing her for defamation in 2023. Due to safety concerns, she and her parents were granted anonymity by the court.
This lawsuit adds to the growing list of legal issues for the Tate brothers. In Romania, Andrew Tate was released from house arrest last month, although he remains under preventative measures as a second criminal investigation continues. A previous case against him was dismissed in December after the Bucharest Court of Appeals ruled in his favor, returning the case to prosecutors.
Joseph D. McBride, a lawyer for the Tates, stated there was no evidence his clients were involved in human trafficking and reiterated that “the truth is on their side.”
As former kickboxers with dual US and British citizenship, the Tates are among the most prominent figures facing trial for human trafficking in Romania. Their legal battles are ongoing as authorities in multiple countries continue to investigate the allegations.
