Olejnik Slams PiS MP Over Lech Kaczyński As Live TV Clash Erupts Over Ziobro Extradition

During a live broadcast on TVN24, journalist Monika Olejnik sharply rebuked PiS MP Michał Wójcik for comparing Zbigniew Ziobro to the late President Lech Kaczyński. . **Body:**

TVN24 Studio Clash Between Olejnik and Wójcik

Michał Wójcik stated on Monday’s “Kropka nad i” program on TVN24 that his party leader is Jarosław Kaczyński and his political patron is Zbigniew Ziobro, but not Mateusz Morawiecki. When Monika Olejnik asked if the patron was on the run, the PiS MP replied that the former minister of justice had crossed the border legally.

After some time, the journalist addressed Wójcik, questioning how he could not be ashamed that two members of his party—including a former minister of justice and prosecutor general, and a former deputy minister—were on the run. Wójcik defended Ziobro as an excellent minister of justice, calling him the greatest since the late President Lech Kaczyński.

Olejnik immediately interrupted, telling the MP not to insult Lech Kaczyński, to which Wójcik replied that he was not insulting him. Reports indicate that former deputy minister Marcin Romanowski is currently staying in Transnistria, controlled by pro-Russian separatists and gangsters, as established by allied special services.

Extradition Request and US Department of Justice Review

In late July, an extradition request and provisional arrest warrant for Zbigniew Ziobro were sent to the USA. Prosecutor General’s Office spokesperson Anna Adamiak announced that the request would go through diplomatic channels to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio via the Polish embassy in Washington.

The request covers 19 of the 26 charges described by the prosecutor’s office in the investigation regarding the Justice Fund. The document, which numbers nearly 300 pages, will be forwarded to the US Department of Justice to assess compliance with formal conditions under the Polish-American extradition treaty before potentially reaching a federal court.

Adamiak noted that if the court’s decision on the extradition request is negative, it is binding for the secretary of state, who must refuse extradition. The procedure is expected to take anywhere from several to several dozen months depending on the case’s complexity.

Ziobro Responds on X Regarding Political Charges

Zbigniew Ziobro addressed the extradition request on the platform X, stating that he has deep respect for American democracy and trusts the independence of US institutions. He declared himself ready for a fair and impartial verification of the allegations and the political context of the proceedings.

The politician asserted that Donald Tusk, Adam Bodnar, and Waldemar Żurek publicly judged his guilt before any independent court reviewed the case, calling the process a political manhunt. He expressed belief that American institutions will easily recognize the political motives behind the request.

Charges in the Justice Fund Investigation

The case involving the former minister of justice is a key thread in the investigation into the Justice Fund’s activities during the PiS government. Prosecutors accuse Ziobro of directing an organized criminal group and abusing his position for criminal purposes.

According to the prosecution, Ziobro allegedly committed 26 offenses, including ordering subordinates to break the law to secure Justice Fund grants for selected entities and interfering with competition offers. The politician denies wrongdoing, maintaining he is the target of a political campaign.