New York Times investigation: How the Tate brothers managed to get out of prison in Romania / The role played by Victor Ponta
Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, controversial influencers from the so-called “manosphere”, were released from Romania after two years of arrest, in a context that involves the intervention of high-ranking American officials, according to an investigation carried out by “The New York Times”, taken over by Ziare.com.
The investigation carried out by “The New York Times” shows that the Tate brothers were under criminal investigation in Romania from 2022 for forcing women to produce pornographic materials, and Andrew Tate was accused of rape and abuse of a 15-year-old teenage girl.
“The New York Times” investigation is based on interviews with dozens of people in Romania, the US and the UK and on the analysis of court documents, e-mails and text messages.
“I was told I will be free soon”
A few days before Donald Trump returned to the White House, Andrew Tate texted a close friend: “I've had word from the Trump administration that I'm on top of things. I'm told I'll be free soon, but Trump needs to see me in Miami.”
The following month, Romanian magistrates allowed travel restrictions to be lifted, in a move that then-prime minister Marcel Ciolacu believed would please the Trump administration, the source said.
The Tate brothers left for Florida on February 27, a moment documented on video under the title “The Tate Escape”. Their arrival in the US sparked controversial reactions among conservatives, with Senator Josh Hawley and commentators such as Megyn Kelly criticizing their release.
The indictment by Romanian prosecutors shows that the Tate brothers forced several women, including minors, to produce sexual content, limited their freedom of movement and reduced their wages if they did not follow the rules. Andrew Tate is accused of raping a teenage girl and physically assaulting other women.
Trump family connections
The Tate brothers have cultivated relationships with right-wing media figures such as Tucker Carlson and members of the Trump family, including Donald Trump Jr. and Barron Trump. Carlson said of the criminal charges in Romania: “This is not actually human trafficking. I don't care what you call it, you didn't buy, you weren't even accused of buying and selling somebody.”
Despite the release, the Tate brothers' legal problems continue. The case in Romania is still pending, and Andrew and Tristan face charges of human trafficking and rape in the UK. Agents of the US Department of Homeland Security have also been investigating them for years.
Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer, has built an online empire through his webcam business and youth classes, promoting a message of discipline, entrepreneurship and the subjugation of women. Over the past eight years, the brothers have made at least £21m from these activities. Andrew Tate stated: “It's not just about hooking girls. It's about getting them to love you enough to move in with you, work for you and give you all their money.”
A four-year investigation into the hidden world of the Tate brothers reveals other characters. One claims to be doing “mental reprogramming”: “Let's not be delusional. This is a sect”
Victor Ponta's contradictory statements
Richard Grenell, the president's special envoy, privately discussed the Tate brothers' case with Romanian officials, The Times found. At Mar-a-Lago, last December, he met with Victor Ponta, then advisor to the Prime Minister of Romania.
Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta traveled to Trump's club in Florida to make his way into the president-elect's inner circle, at a time when the Trump administration was accusing the Romanian election of being annulled. Asked by The New York Times if he and Grenell had discussed the Tate brothers' case, Ponta said they had. “Maybe he saw himself releasing all the American hostages around the world,” he said, without elaborating.
Last month, Victor Ponta changed his position. In an exchange of messages with the US publication, he said he did not recall whether he and Mr Grenell had spoken about the Tate brothers. He then added that he was sure they hadn't discussed it.
Richard Grenell also discussed the Tate brothers' case in mid-February with Romania's then foreign minister, Emil Hurezeanu, when they met at a security conference in Munich, according to initial reports by the Financial Times.
Grenell disputed the characterization of the meeting, saying in a statement to The New York Times that it had been exaggerated in media accounts. “I just ran into him in the lobby,” he said. The foreign minister asked him if he stood by an old tweet showing support for the Tate brothers, and he said yes. “I've never met the Tate brothers, I've never been to Romania,” Grenell said.
Shortly after the Munich conference, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu posted on social media that the United States had not made any request or claim to Romania.
An order was issued in late February instructing prosecutors to negotiate with them, according to two people familiar with the measure who were not authorized to discuss it. The prime minister believed the Trump administration would be pleased with the outcome, a third person said. On February 25, the Tate brothers formally requested that the travel restrictions be lifted.
