A criminal investigation against self-described misogynist influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate has been launched, according to Florida's Attorney-General James Uthmeier.
The brothers, who faced rape and human trafficking charges in Romania, arrived in the US state last week.
This is Andrew Tate's first time being out of Romania since his 2022 arrest.
"These guys have publicly admitted to participating in what very much appears to be soliciting, trafficking, preying upon women around the world," Mr Uthmeier said.
"This is an ongoing criminal investigation and we're going to use every tool we have to ensure that justice is served."
Prosecutors in Romania alleged that Andrew and Tristan Tate and two women set up a criminal organisation in the eastern European country and Britain in early 2021 and sexually exploited several victims.
Andrew Tate, speaking to reporters after arriving in Fort Lauderdale last week, said he and his brother had done nothing wrong and they were "largely misunderstood".
"We live in a democratic society where it's innocent until proven guilty," he said.
The government in Bucharest said the Tates, who have British and US citizenships, need to return to court on March 24. If they don't show, the pair would potentially face "preventive arrest".
Four British women, who have accused Andrew Tate of rape and coercive control in a separate civil case in the UK, recently voiced concern that the US government would help the brothers escape.
In a joint statement, the women said they "feel re-traumatised by the news that the Romanian authorities have given in to pressure from the Trump administration to allow Andrew Tate to travel".
Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said Richard Grenell, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, raised the case at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Mr Trump last week denied all knowledge of any advocacy for Andrew and Tristan Tate from his administration.
"I know nothing about that," Mr Trump told reporters, "We'll check it out."
A Romanian court has granted a British request to extradite the Tates, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.
Andrew Tate moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in the UK.
He leapt to fame in 2016 when he appeared on the Big Brother UK reality television show, but was removed after a video showing him attacking a woman.
He then turned to social media platforms to promote his often misogynistic and divisive views on how to be successful.
Banned from Instagram and TikTok for his views, Andrew Tate is followed by more than 10 million people on X, where his posts are often homophobic and racist.
AFP/ABC
