Polish prosecutors open investigation into alleged assistance in Zbigniew Ziobro flight to United States

Investigation into Ziobro's departure

Government spokesperson Adam Szłapka announced on 8 September 2026 that prosecutors opened a criminal investigation into individuals suspected of assisting former Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro in leaving Poland. The inquiry, handled by the Warsaw District Prosecutor's Office, originated from a legal notification submitted in May by the law firm of attorney Roman Giertych. Authorities are evaluating conduct under Article 239 Section 1 of the Penal Code regarding aiding an offender and Article 271 Section 3 regarding false official certifications. Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek confirmed that the proceedings examine how Ziobro managed to move from Budapest to Washington while evading domestic warrants.

The suspicion is that people here in Poland helped him, and we see today that he also works for one of the television stations, if one can call it that.

Alleged logistical and media support

During a Sejm briefing on 8 September, members of the parliamentary commission reviewing previous government actions outlined specific allegations against TV Republika chief executive Tomasz Sakiewicz and Law and Justice MEP Adam Bielan. Lawmaker Iwona Karolewska stated that investigators are assessing whether Sakiewicz provided fictitious television correspondent credentials alongside financial, logistical, and organizational backing. Lawmaker Karolina Pawliczak noted that Bielan maintained contacts with personnel around the White House and allegedly helped coordinate international transit. Piotr Głowski emphasized that without domestic facilitation, Ziobro could not have completed his journey after political shifts in Hungary altered his legal protections. TV Republika currently employs Ziobro as a regular political commentator from abroad.

European asylum and extradition filings

Ziobro previously resided in Hungary, where the government of Viktor Orbán granted him international protection in early January 2026. In February 2026, the Warsaw-Mokotów District Court approved a domestic arrest warrant for Ziobro, though the Warsaw District Court declined to issue a European Arrest Warrant. Following Hungarian parliamentary elections, Hungarian authorities revoked the refugee status and travel documents of Ziobro, his wife Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro, and former Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski in early July. On 14 July, Polish justice officials contacted the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency regarding Ziobro's residence status. The Ministry of Justice delivered a completed 300-page extradition dossier to United States authorities at the end of August.

Justice Fund charges and cryptocurrency inquiries

The departure probe connects to broader proceedings in which Polish prosecutors attribute 26 criminal offenses to Ziobro, including directing an organized criminal group that misallocated resources from the Justice Fund. On 4 September 2026, Prime Minister Donald Tusk read testimony in the Sejm from proceedings involving the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. The testimony alleged that former exchange head Przemysław Kral offered 2 million PLN to Ziobro to resolve regulatory issues, while Ziobro's foundation accepted 450,000 PLN from the firm. Law and Justice leader Jarosław Kaczyński acknowledged that accepting funds for the foundation was an error, though he rejected the broader claims presented by the prime minister. Ziobro maintains that all charges against him are politically motivated.