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MANCHESTER, England (CN) — A High Court judge refused Andrew and Tristan Tate permission on Friday to challenge a decision allowing British prosecutors to withhold the identities of three women accusing them of rape and human trafficking until the brothers are extradited from Romania.
Andrew Tate, a former kickboxing champion, is a social media influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist who promotes a luxury lifestyle and hyper-masculine ideology.
He and his brother Tristan have amassed millions of followers across social media, while also facing multiple criminal and civil investigations in Romania and the U.K.
The brothers deny all charges against them.
Judge Justice Chamberlain ruled the Crown Prosecution Service acted lawfully by refusing to disclose the complainants’ names before the brothers are returned to Britain.
In the summary of his judgment, he said “the claimants have no rights under any relevant statutory regime to be told of the identities of the complainants” at this stage in proceedings.
He found prosecutors had rational grounds to protect the women from potential harm and that withholding their identities at this stage would not breach the brothers’ right to a fair trial.
The ruling marks the latest step in Britain’s effort to prosecute the brothers, who face extradition to England after criminal proceedings against them in Romania conclude.
British authorities charged Andrew Tate last year with 10 offenses, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain.
Tristan Tate faces 11 charges, including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking.
The charged offenses are said to have taken place between 2012 and 2016.
The brothers argued the decision prevented them from gathering evidence to challenge the accusations while memories remained fresh and violated their right to prepare a defense under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Their lawyers also offered court-backed undertakings and financial security in exchange for receiving the women’s identities.
Chamberlain rejected those arguments.
“The decision was coherent and rational and the contrary is not arguable,” the judge wrote.
He accepted prosecutors’ assessment that “it was necessary to take steps to protect the complainants from the harm that would be caused” given the brothers’ global profile on social media.
The judge said prosecutors were entitled to take a precautionary approach to protect witnesses in serious sexual offense cases.
He also rejected the argument that delaying disclosure breached the brothers’ fair trial rights, finding they would “be informed once they have been extradited to the United Kingdom and before their first appearance at court.”
The brothers, who hold dual U.S. and British citizenship, have lived primarily in Romania since 2017.
Romanian courts approved their extradition to Britain in 2024 but ordered it will take place only after criminal proceedings there finish.
Friday’s ruling also sets the stage for another closely watched legal battle next month. Four British women are scheduled to pursue civil claims against Andrew Tate in the High Court, including over rape, coercive control and physical abuse between 2013 and 2015. Tate denies those accusations.
Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.
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