Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has arrived in the United States despite having his passports revoked, prompting Minister Waldemar Żurek to initiate formal extradition proceedings.
Arrival in the US and Suspicions of Protection
Zbigniew Ziobro appeared in the United States despite the invalidation of both his Polish passports and ongoing prosecutorial actions. The Polish government believes the former Justice Minister may have received informal protection from the American administration or individuals influencing visa and border procedures.
The situation has caused political tension, as Polish services had spent months trying to restrict his ability to leave Europe. Telewizja Republika first reported his departure, and reports later placed him at Newark airport in New Jersey.
Passports and Movement Restrictions
In November 2025, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski revoked Ziobro’s diplomatic passport at the request of the National Prosecutor’s Office, followed by the cancellation of his civilian passport. Investigators intended these actions to hinder his movement and secure the investigation into the Justice Fund.
Despite this, Ziobro left Hungary and entered the United States without obstacle. An anonymous minister quoted by Onet stated that the government did a great deal to prevent his escape, questioning if a sovereign ally is now protecting him.
Political Lobbying and US Relations
US Ambassador Tom Rose had previously signaled to Polish authorities that the Americans were not interested in accepting the former minister. However, lobbying efforts by Patrycja Kotecka and former TVP president Jacek Kurski reportedly changed the dynamic.
Additionally, PiS politicians Adam Bielan and Tomasz Szatkowski traveled to Washington. According to Onet, they criticized the current Polish government and presented the investigation against Ziobro as a political settlement.
International Protection and the Hungarian Shift
Until recently, Ziobro relied on protection provided by Viktor Orbán’s government, which granted him international protection. This changed following a political breakthrough in Budapest and the rise of Peter Magyar, who indicated the possibility of extraditing PiS politicians sought by the Polish justice system.
The Journalist Visa Controversy
Reports suggest Ziobro may have entered the US using a journalist visa associated with Telewizja Republika. Tomasz Sakiewicz did not explicitly deny these claims, stating only that the station would address the matter later.
Experts note that the loss of passports does not always automatically prevent entry if a person holds a previously issued valid visa. The critical issue remains whether the US was informed of the politician’s status as a wanted person and the ongoing prosecutorial actions.
Extradition Process and Justice Fund Investigation
Minister Waldemar Żurek announced that the Ministry of Justice is working to determine Ziobro’s exact legal status and the basis of his travel. Poland will immediately file a formal extradition request once his presence in the USA is confirmed.
Zbigniew Ziobro and his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, are primary suspects in the Justice Fund investigation. Ziobro is accused of leading an organized crime group and utilizing his position for criminal activities, involving 26 alleged crimes including ordering subordinates to break the law.
In February 2026, the District Court for Warsaw-Mokotów approved temporary detention for the former minister, leading to an arrest warrant and a request for a European Arrest Warrant.
