NEWARK, NEW JERSEY — Former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro arrived in the United States after fleeing Hungary, and Poland said it will seek his extradition on charges including abuse of power and embezzlement. TVN24 published a photo of Ziobro at Newark Liberty International Airport.

"I am in the United States. I arrived yesterday, and this is my third time travelling around the country," Ziobro said. He has rejected the charges against him, alleging that the centrist Polish government was targeting conservatives.

Ziobro faces up to 25 years in prison in Poland if convicted of charges including abuse of power, leading an organised criminal enterprise, and using funds meant for crime victims to buy Israeli Pegasus spyware allegedly to monitor political opponents. He and Marcin Romanowski are suspected of embezzling nearly 40 million euros.

Polish justice minister Waldemar Zurek said that if it is confirmed Ziobro is in the United States, Poland will request his extradition. "We will not cease our efforts to ensure that he and Mr. Marcin Romanowski are held accountable before the Polish justice system," Zurek said. He wrote on X that Poland will reach out to the U.S. and Hungary with questions regarding the legal basis that enabled Ziobro to enter the country despite lacking valid documents. Poland had revoked Ziobro's Polish and diplomatic passports.

The Republika broadcaster reported that Ziobro was in the U.S. and announced it had hired him as its political commentator in the country. Local news site Onet reported that Ziobro received a U.S. journalist visa linked to Republika.

Viktor Orbán's government granted Ziobro asylum last year. Péter Magyar was sworn in as Hungary's prime minister on Saturday and named Ziobro and Romanowski as examples of internationally wanted criminals Hungary would no longer protect. "Hungary will no longer be a dumping ground for internationally wanted criminals," Magyar said.

Ziobro served as Poland's justice minister and attorney general from 2015 to 2023, a period during which his judicial reforms led to a standoff between Poland and the European Commission. He was the leader of the Sovereign Poland party, a junior coalition partner of the Law and Justice party.