UK prosecutors file for extradition of the Tate brothers from the US

Prosecutors in the UK have lodged a formal request for the extradition of brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate from the US to face charges of rape and sex trafficking.

The US State Department, which received the requests last week, will review the extradition applications to make sure they comply with the existing agreement between the US and UK.

But the lawyer for the brothers, who are dual US-UK citizens, accused British authorities of failing to provide the necessary supporting documents in the request.

The brothers are facing a total of 59 charges in the UK, including rape and counts relating to sex trafficking and indecent images of a child. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

The Crown Prosecution Service originally brought 21 charges, but added 38 more in July for alleged actions spanning between 2010 and 2017.

US authorities took the men into custody in July after the UK announced the new charges. The brothers lost a bid to be released from a Florida jail on bail last week.

UK authorities had until Wednesday 16 September to submit a full extradition request.

Joe McBride, the brothers' lawyer, said he would be challenging the requests, arguing they were not backed up by the information needed under the extradition agreement.

In a statement to the BBC, McBride said the brothers had also not received the extradition requests themselves, nor documents such as "a warrant, a charging document, and information that provides a reasonable basis to believe my clients committed these offences".

"This cloak-and-dagger act speaks to the deception behind these accusations and to their weakness," he added.

Once the State Department completes it review, there are still several legal steps before extradition can be permitted. Applications must go through the US Justice Department which will in turn forward it to the court, where the final decision on their extradition will be made.

During this legal process, the Tate brothers will remain in jail in the US.

An official letter from the State Department details that Andrew Tate, 39, is "wanted to stand trial in the United Kingdom" on a series of charges, including 10 counts of rape, three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is also accused of making and distributing indecent images of a child and possessing extreme pornography.