Romania’s prime minister has denied facing U.S. pressure to lift restrictions on social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are under criminal investigation.
The Financial Times (FT) reported on Monday that U.S. officials raised the case of the Tate brothers in a call with the Romanian government.
According to an FT source, a request was made to return the brothers’ passports and allow them to travel while awaiting court proceedings.
The brothers are banned from leaving Romania pending a criminal investigation on accusations of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They have denied all charges.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on X on Tuesday: “The U.S. has not made any requests to Romania upon the legal situation of well-known foreign influencers investigated by the Romanian authorities.”
“There were no demands either during the Romanian foreign ministry–Richard Grenell discussion or after it!
“Romania & USA share the same values regarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens,” he added.
“I did not perceive this statement as pressure, just a repeat of a known stance,” Hurezeanu said.
“I don’t know what pressures of another nature were made before or after but what I discussed with Mr. Grenell was cordial, informal, brief, non-binding and I certainly did not detect any form of pressure.”
A first criminal case against Tate and his brother failed in December when a Bucharest court decided not to start the trial, citing flaws in the indictment.
According to an FT source, a request was made to return the brothers’ passports and allow them to travel while awaiting court proceedings.
The brothers are banned from leaving Romania pending a criminal investigation on accusations of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They have denied all charges.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on X on Tuesday: “The U.S. has not made any requests to Romania upon the legal situation of well-known foreign influencers investigated by the Romanian authorities.”
“There were no demands either during the Romanian foreign ministry–Richard Grenell discussion or after it!
“Romania & USA share the same values regarding the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens,” he added.
Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu also denied the claims, telling Euronews on Tuesday that he had had an informal hallway chat with Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell during the Munich conference.🇺🇸 has not made any requests to 🇷🇴 upon the legal situation of well-known foreign influencers investigated by the Romanian authorities. There were no demands either during the @MAERomania - @RichardGrenell discussion or after it! Romania & USA share the same values regarding the…
— Marcel Ciolacu (@CiolacuMarcel) February 18, 2025
“I did not perceive this statement as pressure, just a repeat of a known stance,” Hurezeanu said.
“I don’t know what pressures of another nature were made before or after but what I discussed with Mr. Grenell was cordial, informal, brief, non-binding and I certainly did not detect any form of pressure.”
A first criminal case against Tate and his brother failed in December when a Bucharest court decided not to start the trial, citing flaws in the indictment.
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