MEP Grzegorz Braun was forced to continue his testimony in Warsaw after the court denied his request to leave for Brussels on February 23rd.
Courtroom Dispute
On February 23rd, Grzegorz Braun continued his explanations during a hearing before the Warsaw Praga-Południe District Court, which had begun in December. These explanations concerned accusations of extinguishing Hanukkah candles in the Sejm and directing a fire extinguisher at one of the women present.
After 45 minutes, Braun stated he needed to leave for Brussels to perform his MEP duties. Judge Maciej Brzostko ruled that parliamentary duties were not a sufficient reason to postpone the hearing, warning that leaving would be treated as a resignation from further explanations.
Compromise Reached
Braun continued his explanations and then requested a new hearing date, citing his Brussels flight. The judge proposed a compromise: if Braun continued giving explanations for some time, he could complete them at the next hearing. The MEP spoke for approximately another hour. The hearing, which began at 9 AM, concluded at 1 PM. The court scheduled next sessions for March 5th, 13th, and 19th.
Legal Accusations
The politician faces seven charges. The first concerns an incident on March 1st, 2022, when he allegedly committed bodily harm against Łukasz Szumowski, director of the National Institute of Cardiology. The second charge relates to the same event, where Braun allegedly defamed Szumowski, claiming he was under the influence of alcohol.
Investigators also accuse Braun of extinguishing Hanukkah candles with a fire extinguisher in the Sejm in 2023, causing slight injury to a participant. Additionally, he is accused of blocking a Holocaust lecture at the German Historical Institute and removing a Christmas tree from a Kraków court. Grzegorz Braun faces up to five years in prison but does not plead guilty.
