Senior Democratic lawmakers Gregory Meeks and James Raskin have formally demanded that Secretary of State Marco Rubio explain the expedited visa granted to Poland’s Zbigniew Ziobro, citing potential abuse of power.
Congressional Inquiry into Visa Irregularities
Congressmen Gregory Meeks and James Raskin, ranking Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees, have demanded a formal explanation regarding the U.S. visa issued to Zbigniew Ziobro. In a letter to the Secretary of State, they warned that if the visa was expedited through political intervention, it constitutes a severe abuse of power and a disregard for established U.S. immigration procedures.
The lawmakers emphasized that granting this visa represents an unprecedented level of interference in the domestic political and judicial systems of two long-standing U.S. treaty allies, Poland and Hungary. They have requested that the Trump administration comply with pending Polish extradition requests.
Demands for Documentation and Testimony
The Democrats are seeking full transparency, including whether President Trump or his advisors were involved in the decision-making process. They have requested all correspondence between U.S. officials, including former Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose, regarding the visa issuance.
Meeks and Raskin have ordered Rubio to provide written responses and appear in person before their committees to testify no later than June 21. Neither the State Department nor the White House has responded to requests for comment.
Alleged Expedited Entry via “Media Visa”
Sources indicate that Christopher Landau ordered the issuance of a visa for Ziobro—reportedly a journalist visa—citing “national security” concerns to justify the urgency. The directive bypassed standard processes by ordering the U.S. Embassy in Budapest to issue the document before the Hungarian government transition.
Polish authorities confirmed that Ziobro, who is suspected of orchestrating an organized criminal group related to the Justice Fund, left Europe for New York on May 9. The Polish Prosecutor’s Office stated he entered the U.S. using a “foreign media member” visa, with the Telewizja Republika network identifying him as their correspondent.
Legal Status and Extradition Context
Zbigniew Ziobro is a key suspect in a wide-ranging investigation involving the misappropriation of the Justice Fund. Prosecutors allege he committed 26 criminal acts, including directing an organized crime group and abusing his official position to influence grant allocations.
Following the Polish Parliament’s move to strip his immunity and issue an arrest warrant, Ziobro fled the country and secured international protection in Hungary. Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek has since requested the new Hungarian authorities to revoke this asylum status, noting that Poland’s extradition request remains active.