Former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, wanted in Poland on several criminal charges, announced he has left Hungary and headed to the USA. This was reported on May 10 by the Polish right-wing conservative TV channel Republika.
In a segment aired on the channel, Ziobro stated he arrived in the USA on May 9. Additionally, Polish TVN24 reported that the politician was spotted at Newark Liberty Airport. The channel also published a photo from the airport, allegedly taken by another passenger.
The Polish Prosecutor General's Office stated it is verifying reports that Ziobro has left the Schengen area. According to the agency, the former minister's Polish passport had been previously confiscated. Thus, the documents he used to leave Hungary and reach the USA have become a serious question for Warsaw.
Media outlets have speculated that Ziobro and his wanted former deputy, Marcin Romanowski, may have obtained a "Geneva passport" in Hungary, a travel document issued to refugees.
According to the Polish portal Onet, Ziobro entered the USA with a work visa as a journalist for TV Republika. The channel indirectly confirmed this, stating they invited the fugitive politician to the USA as their "political commentator."
Gazeta Wyborcza reported that Donald Trump personally approved the visa for Ziobro and his wife. According to the publication, the Law and Justice party, to which Ziobro belongs, has close ties to Trump's MAGA movement.
Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Jurek said Warsaw will demand explanations from the USA and Hungary on how Ziobro crossed the borders of both countries without valid documents. He emphasized that Poland will not stop its efforts to bring the fugitive former minister to justice.
In an interview with TV Republika, Ziobro tried to remain calm.
"If they want to start an extradition process, be my guest," he said.
The politician also noted that the extradition process through US courts would not be easy, calling it a "complex procedure."
Zbigniew Ziobro is one of several European politicians who found refuge in Hungary. The Polish government accuses him of corruption, embezzlement of state funds, and abuse of power.
According to investigation data, Ziobro used funds from a special foundation intended for crime victims to purchase the Israeli Pegasus spyware. Investigators believe this software was used to monitor opponents of the Law and Justice party, which was in power in Poland from 2015 to 2023.
In 2024, Hungary granted asylum to Ziobro's deputy, Marcin Romanowski. Nearly a year later, it was revealed that former Justice Minister Ziobro was also hiding in Hungary.
At that time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government described the persecution of these officials in Poland as "politically motivated." However, the new political situation in Poland and internal competition in Hungary are further complicating this issue.
When it was revealed in January 2026 that Ziobro had received asylum in Hungary, Orbán's main rival, Péter Magyar, stated he would fight to ensure the country does not become a "haven for foreign criminals."
After winning the parliamentary elections in April, Magyar reiterated that he would find a way to return the fugitive officials to Poland. At the same time, he did not rule out that they might have already left Hungary.
Now, Ziobro's arrival in the USA has further complicated this political and legal conflict. Poland is seeking to bring him to trial, while Ziobro openly states that the extradition process will be long and complex. In short, this case is no longer just about Polish domestic politics, but is becoming a delicate diplomatic issue between Warsaw, Budapest, and Washington.
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