Ziobro Attends CPAC Gala at Mar-a-Lago
Fugitive former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro attended a conservative gathering in Florida as Warsaw seeks his extradition.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Should the US extradite Polish politician Zbigniew Ziobro to face charges at home?
Zbigniew Ziobro, a deputy leader of Poland's national-conservative Law and Justice party, attended a CPAC retreat and gala at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Polish prosecutors want him returned to face 26 charges, and Poland's justice minister has called on the United States to cooperate on extradition.
Why it matters
Ziobro fled to the United States rather than face criminal charges in Poland, and Warsaw says it has received no response to its July request to detain and extradite him. The case tests whether a fugitive politician can find refuge abroad while his home country pursues prosecutions tied to the change of government in Warsaw.
Poland's National Prosecutor's Office sent a July request asking US authorities to detain and extradite Ziobro, who faces 26 charges including leading a criminal group. As of late October the office had received no reply, and the US response remains unknown.
The players
Zbigniew Ziobro
Former Polish justice minister and deputy leader of the national-conservative Law and Justice party, who is accused of 26 crimes and remains at large.
Waldemar Żurek
Poland's justice minister, who has called on the United States to cooperate on extraditing Ziobro and hopes a shifting US political balance will make cooperation more likely.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States, who addressed the guests at the CPAC gala held at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
The details
Ziobro attended a CPAC retreat and gala at Mar-a-Lago, where Donald Trump addressed guests and advisor Nikodem Rachoń, a Polish presidential adviser, was listed as a speaker. Ziobro left Hungary in May and flew to the United States, reportedly with help from a senior US State Department official, after Hungary granted him political asylum in December 2025.
Timeline
Ziobro served as Poland's justice minister from 2015 to 2023.
In December 2023, the Tusk-led coalition took power and launched investigations into senior PiS officials.
In December 2025, Hungary granted Ziobro political asylum.
In May 2026, Ziobro left Hungary and flew to the United States.
Legal Context
Ziobro's flight follows the Tusk-led government's investigations of senior Law and Justice officials that began in December 2023. Whether Washington acts on Poland's extradition request will determine how far those prosecutions can reach beyond Polish borders.
For readers following international justice cases, the outcome of Poland's extradition request will show whether a politician facing charges abroad can seek shelter in the United States. Cross-border enforcement of prosecutions depends on governments acting on formal requests like this one.
The takeaway
Extradition requests between allied governments often move slowly, and a politician's political networks can complicate them. Tracking whether Washington responds to Poland's July request will clarify how such cases are handled.
Further reading
Explore more in Financial Crime coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Notes From Poland.
Live Poll
Should the US extradite Polish politician Zbigniew Ziobro to face charges at home?
