When Andrew and Tristan Tate took the witness stand during their August bail hearing in Miami, they thought they could outsmart federal prosecutors. The newly released transcripts reveal a different story: one of contradictions, perjury allegations, and statements that may have damaged their own cases.
The brothers faced questions about whether they posed a flight risk while awaiting extradition to the UK. Their strategy involved downplaying their wealth.victim
Tristan delivered the most surprising testimony when asked about Andrew’s financial status. “Right now he’s not even a millionaire,” Tristan stated under oath. “Absolutely not.”
This statement contradicts years of claims made to followers of their online programs, where the brothers positioned themselves as wealthy entrepreneurs worth hundreds of millions. The testimony raises questions about what subscribers to Hustlers University and similar ventures were actually paying for, advice from self-proclaimed billionaires or from men who now claim to have less than seven figures.
The prosecution appeared ready for this approach. When Andrew’s partner Natasha Sesay took the stand, prosecutors asked detailed questions about the financial support Andrew provides for his four children with different mothers.
Sesay described luxury bags, shoes, jewelry, and comprehensive housing and medical care. The testimony painted a picture of substantial resources, directly conflicting with the poverty narrative the defense attempted to establish.
Andrew’s own testimony created additional problems. He claimed on the stand that all Romanian case targets except one had publicly defended him. Court documents show 46 women involved in the Romanian proceedings, yet only four have made public statements supporting the Tates.
He also repeatedly stated he had “already won” the Romanian case, despite the case remaining active with additional charges recently added.
The infamous “belt video” became another problematic topic. Andrew testified that police seized the video from a phone dating to 2014. The woman in the video was born in September 1997, making her at most 17 years old in 2014. Andrew now faces charges in the UK for indecent images of a minor from devices seized during that period.
The judge frequently intervened, asking Andrew to slow down and answer questions directly rather than delivering lengthy speeches. At one point, the prosecutor revealed that Andrew’s claim about being housed next to an inmate who ended three children was false, no such case existed at the facility.
The Tates remain in custody at FDC Miami, with their extradition hearing scheduled to continue.
