Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has reportedly fled to the United States from Hungary to avoid prosecution over alleged irregularities involving the Justice Fund.
Escape from Hungary to the United States
TV Republika reported on Sunday morning that Zbigniew Ziobro is currently in the USA, having likely departed Hungary on Saturday. Ziobro had previously received political asylum from Viktor Orban’s government after Polish prosecutors brought charges regarding irregularities in the Justice Fund.
The situation changed after the April elections to the Hungarian parliament, where the opposition TISZA party took power. Its leader, Peter Magyar, had promised the extradition of the Polish politician.
Reports from Wyborcza.pl indicate that Ziobro and his wife, Patrycja Kotęcka, were granted entry to the USA through a visa personally approved by President Donald Trump, despite opposition from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador Tom Rose.
Clarification on Romanowski’s Location
While it was initially reported by Wojciech Czuchnowski that Romanowski had also fled to the USA, Wyborcza later confirmed that the former deputy minister has remained in Hungary.
Reactions from Polish Politicians
Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski urged Ziobro to return to Poland and stop fleeing justice, reminding him of his own statement that the innocent have nothing to fear. MP Zdzisław Gawlik and Senator Stanisław Gawłowski characterized the escape as the act of “rats” fleeing justice, stating such behavior burdens PiS and Jarosław Kaczyński.
Senator Waldy Dzikowski described Ziobro’s “fight for the rule of law” from overseas as a “weak cabaret.” MP Jarosław Wałęsa referenced Ziobro’s own 2023 comments about the government being “fools,” asking who the fool is now.
MEP Krzysztof Brejza called the escape a disgrace, labeling Ziobro and Romanowski as cowards who hide like criminals to avoid accountability before the Polish justice system.
Defense by Political Allies
Jacek Kurski defended Ziobro on TV Republika, calling the legal proceedings a form of “criminal-political revenge.” He claimed Ziobro is not fleeing justice but is being targeted for challenging the current government’s “pathologies.”
