Reuters reports that former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau intervened to grant Zbigniew Ziobro a visa, citing national security concerns while the politician faced legal prosecution in Poland.
U.S. Intervention and Visa Status
Reuters established that U.S. Ambassador to Warsaw Tom Rose informed Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau about Zbigniew Ziobro’s case in early spring. Landau determined that the politician was being unfairly targeted by the Polish justice system.
Landau instructed the consular department in Washington to issue a visa to Ziobro through the U.S. Embassy in Budapest. Three sources confirmed that the former minister received a journalistic visa, which explains his earlier claims that he would serve as a correspondent for TV Republika.
National Security Justification
According to one source, Landau cited national security concerns to justify the urgency of the visa issuance, allowing Ziobro to obtain it before the inauguration of Peter Magyar’s government. Sources stated they had no information regarding the involvement of Donald Trump or Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The diplomat declined to comment, while the State Department maintained its policy of confidentiality regarding visa records.
Polish Legal Inquiries
Prosecutor Przemysław Nowak announced last week that investigators are seeking information from the U.S. Embassy regarding the type and basis for visas issued to Zbigniew Ziobro and Marcin Romanowski. Authorities also inquired about the suspects’ current whereabouts.
The prosecutor noted that Ziobro’s regular and diplomatic passports were invalidated last December, raising suspicions regarding non-standard border crossing procedures. Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki stated that Poland is awaiting an American response to a diplomatic note before deciding whether to seek international assistance in pursuing the former Justice Minister.
Legal Status and International Movements
The Polish Parliament revoked Ziobro’s immunity on November 7, 2025, approving his detention regarding 26 charges related to the Justice Fund. The National Prosecutor’s Office issued a detention order, but it remained ineffective as the former minister was no longer in Poland.
Ziobro had moved to Hungary, receiving international protection under Viktor Orban. Following the recent inauguration of Prime Minister Peter Magyar, whose campaign included promises to extradite PiS politicians remaining in Hungary, the status of these individuals remains a point of contention.