Florida announces criminal investigation into Andrew Tate five days after he flew into US from Romania – as insiders claim he’s spent time at Trump’s resort since arriving

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been placed under criminal investigation in Florida just days after the influencer siblings arrived in the US from Romania.

Florida’s attorney-general, James Uthmeier, announced that law enforcement had carried out search warrants and subpoenas as part of a ‘now active’ inquiry. 

Both brothers, who have dual British and American citizenship, are currently under investigation in Romania accused of human trafficking but were allowed to fly to Florida last week by a court and are expected to remain there for another two weeks. 

Andrew, 38, is also charged in Romania with rape.  

‘Florida has zero tolerance for people who abuse women and girls,’ Uthmeier said.

‘We’re going to use every tool we have to ensure justice is served. If these guys did criminal activity here in Florida, we will go after them with the full force of law and hold them accountable.’

‘These guys have themselves publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world, many of these victims coming forward — some of them minors,’ Uthmeier went on. 

‘People can spin or defend however they want but in Florida this type of behaviour is viewed as atrocious. We’re not going to accept it. They chose to come here and set their feet down in this state and we’re going to pursue every tool we have within our legal authority to hold them accountable.’

Andrew hit back and said: ‘They have all my electronics, and I guess they are going through it to try and find a crime I’m very confident they won’t, but we also know how ridiculous prosecutors can be.’ 

The controversial Tate brothers travelled from Bucharest to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a private jet last Thursday.

Ric Grenell, a special envoy to Trump, had put pressure on the Romanian government to lift travel restrictions imposed on the pair. 

And now MailOnline can reveal that Andrew and Tristan have spent time at the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. 

Andrew is a staunch supporter of Trump and although it is not known if they have met Trump he was also staying at Mar-a-Lago last weekend when both brothers flew in after their 12-hour flight from Romania.

A source close to the Tate brothers said: ‘It’s no secret they both admire Donald Trump and are fans of his and they have spent time the last few days at Mar-a-Lago, they arrived in Florida when Trump was in the state.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if they all met up then or at some later stage while they are in Florida before they return to Romania later this month – and they will return, they are not afraid and will fight to clear their names.’

MailOnline has reached out to Andrew’s team for comment.

Trump’s team have also been approached for comment. 

Since arriving in the US last week Andrew has also given a fawning online interview endorsing Trump and said: ‘Trump is a hero. Trump has saved the Western world. I don’t think enough people understand that.

‘If he didn’t win it would have been over for the Western world as we know it…that is not exaggeration, that is not hyperbole.

‘Trump has saved the world, the reason I am a fan of Trump is not because I agree with everything single thing he does, not because I think he’s a perfect person, but I can look and say, ‘He has saved the world.’

Last year after a court appearance in Bucharest he said he was ‘very close to the Trump family’ saying he knew ‘them well’.

He added: ‘Once I am free, I look forward to being with Donald Trump in person and reminding him he is a bulletproof badass.’

The outspoken self-styled misogynist and his brother were allowed to fly to the US after prosecutors in Romania suspended their travel ban and lifted a precautionary seizure of some of their assets.

Authorities in Bucharest arrested the brothers – who have joint British and US citizenship – in 2022 and they are facing trial for rape, sex with a minor, people trafficking and money laundering.

Donald Trump Jr. once said their detention was ‘absolute insanity’ and the brothers also deny all the charges against them.

Last month US special envoy Richard Grenell, a supporter of the Tate brothers, asked Romania to relax the travel ban and Bucharest said there had been ‘no political pressure’ on the decision to let them leave.

One of their American legal team – Paul Ingrassia – was recently sworn in as the White House liaison for the Department of Justice.

Both men are also due to be extradited back to the UK once the Romanian case is complete to face similar accusations after four women came forward to say they had been raped and trafficked.