CNN —

Right-wing social media personality Andrew Tate and his sibling Tristan recently arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after departing Romania on a private jet this past Thursday, as confirmed by their representative, Mateea Petrescu.

The Tate brothers, who possess dual citizenship in the US and the UK, were previously restricted from leaving Romania following their arrest in 2022, where they faced serious charges including rape, human trafficking, money laundering, and operating an organized crime syndicate. Both have adamantly denied any wrongdoing.

Upon their arrival at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, Andrew Tate expressed to reporters: “My brother and I believe we are largely misunderstood. There are myriad opinions about us – particularly the narratives proliferating online.”

He further stated, “The principle is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, a point which applies to my brother and me.”

Their attorney, Ioan Gliga, informed CNN that the duo departed Romania on Thursday morning, heading to Florida.

“They are no longer facing any travel restrictions… The prosecutor agreed to amend the conditions that were previously imposed at the request of their legal counsel,” Gliga noted.

Petrescu, the spokesperson for the brothers, refrained from revealing details about the flight’s cost or their upcoming travel plans.

The Romanian government’s decision to lift the travel ban reportedly came in response to pressure from the US to ease restrictions on Tate, a self-dubbed misogynist with a significant online following and a polarizing figure among conservative circles in America.

Earlier this month, the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration had pressured Romanian authorities to relax travel limitations on Tate, initially through a phone call and subsequently during discussions between Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell and Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu at the Munich Security Conference.

Hurezeanu later acknowledged he had conversed with US officials regarding the Tate brothers but stated he had not faced any pressure to lift their restrictions.

A representative for Romania’s Foreign Ministry told CNN that there was “no pressure, no requests” during the discussions. Concurrently, White House representatives asserted that the US government played no direct role in the Tates’ travel to Florida.

In an official statement, Romanian prosecutors clarified that only the travel limitations have been lifted, while “all other obligations remain in place, including the necessity to appear before judicial authorities when summoned.”

Gliga, the brothers’ attorney, disclosed to CNN that the Tates are expected to return to Romania in less than a month for their next court appointment set for March 24.

The easing of travel restrictions has faced widespread criticism from Romanian politicians.

Presidential candidate Elena Lasconi expressed her outrage over the decision and demanded that authorities clarify if their actions were influenced by external forces.

“We cannot allow Romania’s reputation to be compromised through impunity and disregard,” Lasconi stated. “What message does that send globally? That wealth and influence allow one to escape accountability in Romania?”

Meanwhile, in the United States, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis indicated that the Tate brothers are not welcome in the state.

During a news briefing, DeSantis remarked that “Florida is not a place that welcomes such behavior” when queried about Andrew Tate’s arrival in Fort Lauderdale.

In addition to their charges in Romania, Tate also confronts civil litigation in the UK, with four women accusing him of rape and coercive control prior to his rise to fame online. Tate has vehemently denied these allegations.

A statement from the alleged victims conveyed their disbelief and feelings of re-traumatization upon learning of Tate’s release from Romania, expressing concerns that he would exploit his freedom to perpetuate a harmful, misogynistic message globally.

“There is a significant risk that the criminal proceedings related to his alleged offenses in Romania may not advance,” they stated.

Matthew Jury, the attorney for the alleged victims, told CNN that “any thought that the Tates would return to Romania to face possible imprisonment is unrealistic.”

Jury reiterated that while Romania “may not have surrendered judicial control over the Tates, they have effectively lost any practical oversight.”

In an earlier statement, Jury added that Romania had “embarrassed itself” through the removal of travel restrictions, labeling the decision as “appalling and distressing.”

Later on Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to meet with Trump for discussions in Washington, D.C. Jury expressed that he hopes Starmer will address this matter on behalf of the alleged British victims.

Tate, who gained fame online in recent years, amassing billions of views on TikTok with his views on male dominance, female subservience, and wealth, faced bans from nearly all social media platforms until Trump’s adviser Elon Musk took over X and reinstated his account.

In Romania, an initial criminal case against Tate and his brother fell apart in December when a Bucharest court declined to proceed with the trial, citing issues with the indictment.

In January, a Romanian court lifted an order for house arrest against Tate, replacing it with a less stringent preventive measure. In October, a court ruled that he should have his luxury cars, valued at approximately €4 million ($4.43 million), returned, pending ongoing investigations.