Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro has arrived in the United States despite revoked passports, prompting the Polish government to investigate potential informal protection from U.S. officials.
Arrival in the US and Suspicions of Protection
Zbigniew Ziobro has appeared in the United States despite the revocation of both his Polish passports and ongoing prosecutorial actions. According to Onet, there is a growing conviction within the Polish government that 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 attempting to limit Ziobro’s ability to leave Europe. Minister Waldemar Żurek has announced the initiation of extradition procedures.
Reports of Ziobro’s departure were first shared by Telewizja Republika, followed by reports of his presence at Newark Airport in New Jersey, supported by a photo sent to TVN24.
Passport Revocation and Travel Logistics
The situation is particularly controversial given that in November 2025, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski revoked Ziobro’s diplomatic passport at the request of the National Prosecutor’s Office, followed by the revocation of his civil passport. Investigators intended these moves to restrict his movement and secure the investigation into the Justice Fund.
Despite these measures, Ziobro left Hungary and entered the United States without hindrance. An anonymous minister cited by Onet stated that while the government did much to prevent his escape, it appears an ally may be protecting him.
Lobbying and Diplomatic Pressures
Onet reports that behind-the-scenes discussions and diplomatic pressures occurred. While U.S. Ambassador Tom Rose had previously signaled that the U.S. was not interested in accepting the former minister, the situation allegedly shifted following actions by individuals associated with the former ruling camp.
Patrycja Kotecka and former TVP president Jacek Kurski are mentioned as having lobbied for Ziobro’s entry. Simultaneously, PiS politicians Adam Bielan and Tomasz Szatkowski traveled to Washington, where they reportedly criticized the current Polish government and presented the investigation against Ziobro as a political vendetta.
The Role of Hungary
Ziobro had previously benefited from protection provided by Viktor Orbán’s government, which granted him international protection after Polish prosecutors began their actions. This changed following a political shift in Budapest and the rise of Peter Magyar, who suggested the possibility of extraditing PiS politicians sought by the Polish justice system.
Controversy Over Journalist Visa
Unofficial information suggests Ziobro may have entered the U.S. using a journalist visa linked to Telewizja Republika. Tomasz Sakiewicz did not explicitly deny these reports, stating only that the station would address the matter later.
Experts note that losing Polish passports does not automatically block entry if a person holds a previously issued valid visa or documents recognized by border services. The critical question remains whether the U.S. was informed of Ziobro’s status as a wanted politician.
Extradition Efforts and Justice Fund Probe
Minister Waldemar Żurek stated that the Ministry of Justice is working to determine Ziobro’s exact residency status and the legal basis of his travel. Poland intends to file a formal extradition request immediately upon confirmation of his presence in the USA.
Ziobro and his former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, remain the primary suspects in the Justice Fund investigation. Ziobro is accused of leading an organized crime group and committing 26 crimes, including ordering subordinates to break the law and manipulating fund competitions to benefit specific entities.
In February 2026, the District Court for Warsaw-Mokotów approved temporary arrest for the former minister, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant and a European Arrest Warrant.
