On May 17, Telewizja Republika editor-in-chief Tomasz Sakiewicz clarified that former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro is a political commentator for the station, not a journalist, and holds no official press credentials.
The Role of a Commentator
During Sylwester Latkowski’s “Bez Cenzury” program, Sakiewicz addressed speculation regarding how Zbigniew Ziobro secured entry into the United States. He emphasized that Ziobro will strictly provide commentary rather than conduct interviews or write articles.
Sakiewicz maintained that issuing press credentials to a political figure like Ziobro would be inappropriate. He noted that Ziobro will appear as a biased commentator representing the PiS political line, a practice he claims is common across many other media outlets.
Ziobro’s Status and Internal Criticism
Sakiewicz rejected the notion that the station grants Ziobro special treatment, stating that the former minister’s actions are frequently subject to criticism within Telewizja Republika. He argued that his primary concern remains the value of the commentary for viewers, regardless of Ziobro’s political standing.
Reuters Report on U.S. Visa Intervention
According to Reuters, unofficial findings suggest Ziobro entered the U.S. on an expedited journalist visa following high-level intervention. Sources indicate that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau issued instructions for the U.S. Embassy in Budapest to facilitate the visa, citing national security concerns.
Three individuals familiar with the matter confirmed that Landau acted after receiving information from Tom Rose, the U.S. Ambassador in Warsaw. These sources stated that Ziobro’s visa status aligns with his announced intent to work as a correspondent for TV Republika.
