Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro Arrives in US After Receiving Asylum in Hungary

Former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro confirmed he traveled from Hungary to the United States on Saturday, arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport. Ziobro, who was granted asylum by the Hungarian government last year, said he used a document provided along with that status.

A photo taken by another traveler at the airport was published by local media. He told right-wing broadcaster Republika, which later announced it had hired him as a political commentator in the US, that he received a US journalist visa. Ziobro stated that President Donald Trump personally intervened to approve their visas.

According to Ziobro, he is ready to appear before any court and described an American independent court as “certainly independent.” He added that if authorities want to initiate extradition proceedings they may do so, calling such cases in US courts “a demanding procedure.”

Ziobro served as justice minister and attorney general from 2015 to 2023 under the nationalist conservative Law and Justice party government. He was also leader of the Sovereign Poland party, a junior coalition partner. Prosecutors requested the lifting of his parliamentary immunity in October.

They allege he misused a fund for victims of violence, including for the purchase of Pegasus surveillance software, and face charges including abuse of power, leading an organized criminal enterprise and misusing funds. He could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

Ziobro has rejected the charges.

Polish prosecutors said on Monday they are investigating whether Ziobro was assisted in evading liability. The national prosecutor’s office is examining his whereabouts and looking into possible obstruction of the investigation into the justice fund.

Current Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek stated that Poland had invalidated Ziobro’s travel documents, including his diplomatic passport. Żurek wrote on X that Poland will contact the US and Hungary to determine the legal basis that allowed Ziobro to enter the United States.

He added that authorities will not cease efforts to ensure Ziobro and his former deputy Marcin Romanowski are held accountable before the Polish justice system. Earlier, Żurek told a broadcaster that Poland would request extradition if Ziobro’s presence in the US is confirmed.

Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór told The Associated Press that officials do not want the issue to become political. He said the relationship with the US goes much deeper than what happens with Ziobro but that Warsaw wants its citizen to eventually return to Poland and face justice.

It remains unclear how Ziobro managed to travel to the United States after Poland revoked his Polish and diplomatic passports. Onet reported that he received a US journalist visa linked to Republika.