A Florida judge set back Thursday’s court hearing for Andrew and Tristan Tate by two weeks after they were arrested by federal authorities in Miami for sex trafficking last month.
The hearing is now scheduled for Aug. 27. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis granted the defense’s request to postpone the hearing. The Tate brothers’ lawyers needed more time to respond to prosecutors’ arguments.
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At the hearing, the judge will determine whether the Tates should remain in federal custody or be released as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom. The defendants face nearly five dozen charges in the U.K. involving human trafficking, rapes, and assaults against victims.
On July 18, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Andrew and Tristan Tate on a sealed U.K. extradition warrant related to the serious charges. They have denied any wrongdoing.
The Tate brothers have long faced human trafficking allegations in Romania, where their criminal case remains ongoing despite procedural hurdles and delays. After travel restrictions were lifted, they relocated to the United States while continuing to post controversial content geared toward young men.
The defense attorneys argue their clients should be released pending extradition because their social media presence makes it difficult for them to flee authorities. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors contend they should remain detained in the international extradition case. They are being held in a special unit at Miami’s Federal Detention Center for their own safety.
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The U.K. can provide evidence to the State Department to support the extradition of the Tate brothers until mid-September. Only Secretary of State Marco Rubio can block their extradition to the U.K. It appears Rubio has no intention of doing so, as he said the U.S. has “no role” to play in the case.
The extradition hearing has not been scheduled yet.
