White House Official Pressed DHS to Return Andrew and Tristan Tate’s Devices, Report Says

Key point: A White House lawyer reportedly asked the Department of Homeland Security to return electronic devices seized from Andrew and Tristan Tate after the brothers entered the United States in February, raising questions about possible intervention in an active inquiry.

What happened

According to a ProPublica report published Nov. 18, a White House official intervened with senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) staff a few days after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized electronic devices belonging to Andrew Tate, 38, and his brother Tristan Tate, 37, when they arrived in the U.S. in February.

The players

The official identified in the report is Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer who previously represented the Tate brothers before joining the Trump administration. The brothers, who hold both U.S. and U.K. citizenship, have denied allegations that they led a criminal enterprise that recruited women to Romania for sexual exploitation; Andrew also faces a separate rape charge. Romanian authorities arrested the brothers in 2022 and later allowed travel after lifting restrictions earlier this year.

What the report says

ProPublica says Ingrassia sent a written request criticizing the seizure as “not a good use of time or resources” and emphasized that the request came from the White House. Some DHS personnel were reportedly surprised by the message and expressed concern about appearing to interfere with a federal investigation. The report did not establish whether investigators wanted to inspect the devices or whether the White House request affected any ongoing probe.

Responses and reactions

A DHS spokesperson said, "CBP performed a 100% baggage examination and detained all electronic media devices when the Tate Brothers entered the country. Electronic media devices were detained and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for inspectional purposes."

Joseph McBride, an attorney for the Tates, said Ingrassia had represented the brothers in 2023 and later joined the administration. McBride added that he personally asked authorities for a warrant and an affidavit of probable cause, maintained the devices were never returned to the brothers, and characterized federal processes as disorganized. McBride told a national newspaper he considered the report a "nothingburger" and said the Tates still do not have their devices back.

Requests for comment to the White House were not immediately answered. Public reporting has also detailed controversy surrounding Ingrassia earlier this year; he withdrew a nomination for a separate federal role and was later appointed to a senior legal post at a federal agency.

Why it matters

The episode raises legal and ethical questions: why U.S. officials sought access to the Tates' devices, who authorized their return, and whether any intervention could have affected investigative efforts. Available reporting does not provide definitive answers, and officials have not disclosed whether any investigative material was reviewed or retained.

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