Former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro faces up to 25 years in prison for allegedly diverting funds intended for victims of crimes to acquire the Pegasus spyware, reportedly to monitor political opponents.
Ziobro, sought by Polish justice and who had sought refuge in Hungary under Viktor Orbán, confirmed on Sunday that he is now in the United States. “I am in the United States,” Ziobro stated in an interview with the conservative Polish television channel Republika.
TVN24 news channel published a photo of Ziobro at Newark airport in New York, where he risks a long prison sentence for misusing funds to purchase spyware for political surveillance.
Ziobro, who served as Justice Minister and Attorney General under the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party from 2015 to 2023, denies the allegations, accusing the current centrist government of conducting a witch hunt against conservatives.
After announcing in 2026 that he had obtained asylum in Hungary, Ziobro faced a change in policy under the new Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who vowed not to offer refuge to individuals wanted by international justice, including Ziobro.
Poland plans to seek clarification from the United States and Hungary on the legal basis for Ziobro’s entry into the U.S. without valid documents, according to Polish Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek.
Despite his passport revocation by Poland, efforts are ongoing to hold Ziobro accountable before Polish courts, with potential extradition proceedings looming.
Ziobro’s controversial judicial reforms led to tensions between Poland and the European Commission, which criticized the reforms for undermining the rule of law and the balance of power.
In response to questions about extradition, Ziobro expressed readiness to appear before any court, including an independent U.S. court, referring to extradition proceedings as a rigorous process.
/image%2F0405558%2F20260510%2Fob_32801b_250th-anniversary.png "Axel Monnier (P2): The United States is already in a state of cold civil war")
