US government puts Romania under pressure: freedom for internet agitator Andrew Tate?

USA/Romania - A special envoy of Donald Trump (78) is to exert pressure on Romania to ease the travel restrictions on brothers Andrew (38) and Tristan Tate (36). The two notorious influencers are on trial for serious charges - including human trafficking, sexual assault and money laundering.

Last year, the brothers were arrested in Romania and were initially held under house arrest. Although they were released from house arrest, they are not allowed to leave the country. Their passports were also withheld for this reason.

Now the USA is said to have already demanded the return of the passports in several talks, as Sky News writes with reference to reports from the Financial Times.

Trump's special envoy Richard Grenell (58) is also said to have spoken personally with the Romanian foreign minister to enable the two to leave the country. Grenell himself claims that he had "no substantive conversation" with Emil Hurezeanu (69).

His public posts on X are said to show that he supports the Tate brothers - which he himself admitted.

Another aspect that influenced the debate was the allegation that under Joe Biden (82) there had been a payment of USAID funds to strengthen the Romanian judiciary.

Both Richard Grenell and Tristan Tate were of the opinion that these funds were used to persecute political opponents. "All over the world, conservatives have been targeted. Romania is the latest example," Grenell wrote on X.

So far, Romania has not responded to the demands. "The Romanian courts are independent and operate based on the law, there is due process," said a spokesperson for the Secretary of State.

In the meantime, however, the Tate brothers have not only been charged in Romania. A lawsuit was also recently filed against them in Florida. They are accused of luring a woman to Romania and forcing her into prostitution.