US Democrats demand Rubio explain visa granted to wanted Polish ex-minister Ziobro

Two senior House Democrats have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding answers over a US visa issued to former Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who is wanted in Poland on 26 criminal charges.

Zbigniew Ziobro at his swearing-in as justice minister at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, November 2019.REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo

Gregory Meeks and James Raski, the senior Democrats on the House foreign relations and judiciary committees, cited a Reuters report that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau directed officials to facilitate and expedite the visa, which allowed Ziobro to leave Hungary and travel to the United States.

In their letter, the lawmakers said that if true, the move would constitute „a massive abuse of power and disregard for the legal immigration processes of the United States”.

They also warned it risked causing „a significant diplomatic crisis” with Poland, a longstanding NATO member and US ally.

Ziobro travelled to Hungary in autumn 2025 and was reportedly granted asylum by then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government in December.

He left for the US before Orbán’s pro-EU successor Peter Magyar, who had pledged to extradite Ziobro, was sworn in on 9 May.

Ziobro travelled on a refugee document after his Polish passport was invalidated.

Polish prosecutors allege he misused funds from a crime victims’ compensation scheme.

If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.

Ziobro denies wrongdoing, saying he is the target of a politically motivated campaign by Poland’s ruling coalition.

The White House referred questions to the State Department, which said it does not comment on congressional correspondence.

Meeks and Raskin have asked Rubio for a written response and a briefing before their committees by 21 June.

They also want to know whether US President Donald Trump or his aides were involved in approving the visa, and on what grounds it was granted.

Poland’s government has prepared a formal extradition request to the United States.

(al)

Source: Reuters, IAR

Radio Poland