Influencer, Andrew Tate has been hit with fresh charges for allegedly possessing child p0rn, as the controversial him and his brother continue to fight their extradition to the UK.
The 39-year-old “manosphere” influencer was hit with 19 new charges relating to “indecent images of a child and extreme pornography” by Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, the Telegraph reported. Former professional kickboxer Andrew also faces seven new counts of rape, three counts of sex trafficking, and three counts of assault. His younger brother Tristan, 38, faces one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape, and three counts of sex trafficking.
These 38 new charges are related to four accusers spanning a period between July 2010 and August 2017.
The brothers appeared in federal court on Monday, where their lawyers said they would fight their extradition to the UK. Wearing light brown prison uniforms, handcuffs, and shackles at the waist and ankles, the pair spoke only to say “Yes, your honor,” in response to the judge’s question about whether they understood their rights.
Both brothers are accused of choking women, sometimes until they passed out, before raping them, according to unsealed documents from police in southeast England. Another woman alleged Andrew visited her home and choked her to the point that she was afraid he was going to kill her, according to the complaint. Tristan is alleged to have regularly choked, beaten, and raped a woman he was dating in 2012 and 2013, with the accuser telling police he gave her a black eye and whipped her with a belt.
On Monday, the Tates’ lawyer told reporters outside the courtroom that his clients were innocent, calling the attempted extradition by British authorities a “political kidnapping” and estimating that the final decision will take around 60 days. In the meantime, the pair are reportedly being kept in solitary confinement in federal custody ahead of their next court hearing on July 27.
The elder Tate brother was already facing 10 charges, including three counts of rape, four of actual bodily harm, two of human trafficking, and one of controlling prostitution for gain. Tristan was previously facing 11 charges, including three counts of rape, six of actual bodily harm, and two of human trafficking, following the brothers’ arrests on Saturday.
The pair have been living abroad since 2016, where they are facing a separate criminal investigation over allegations of human trafficking, rape, forming an organized criminal group, and money laundering. A final decision on extraditing Andrew and Tristan, who hold joint US and British nationalities, will be made by the Secretary of State.