Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw, Tusk said Poland would seek the return of Ziobro, a former justice minister and leading opposition figure, but acknowledged that the final decision would rest with US authorities.
"Our American allies have a soft spot for today’s opposition, a political soft spot, including for Minister Ziobro," Tusk said.
Asked whether Ziobro could be extradited from the United States, Tusk said his influence over the administration of US President Donald Trump was "limited."
"I don’t know how the Americans will behave," he said. "As for Ziobro, I would favor a quick deportation, but my tools here are limited."
Ziobro is a suspect in an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Justice Fund, a state fund run by the Ministry of Justice and intended to help victims of crime.
Prosecutors allege that money from the fund was steered to favored organizations while Ziobro headed the ministry.
Zbigniew Ziobro. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
This week, the Warsaw District Court upheld a decision to place Ziobro in temporary detention.
Prosecutor Piotr Woźniak, who is leading the Justice Fund investigation, said an extradition request would be prepared without delay.
Prosecutor Piotr Woźniak. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka
Ziobro said on May 10 that he was in the United States. Earlier, he had spent several months in Hungary with his wife after receiving international protection from the government of then-Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on Thursday that Hungary had revoked refugee status and travel documents granted to Ziobro, his wife Patrycja Kotecka-Ziobro, and Marcin Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister who is also facing charges in the Justice Fund investigation.
Tusk said Poland and Hungary had now taken the steps that many people had expected.
"From the Polish side and the Hungarian side, what people were waiting for, what I expected, has happened," he said.
He added that Poland was explaining to US officials that the case mattered for the credibility of the Polish state.
"A good ally is an ally where there is rule of law and where politicians are held accountable for the wrong they have done," Tusk said.
The prime minister also acknowledged political differences with Washington over Poland’s domestic affairs.
"Let us not pretend that we do not know that President Trump’s administration has a different view of Poland’s internal affairs than I do," Tusk said.
He added that he was still working to maintain strong Polish-American ties because they were crucial for Poland, Europe and the United States.
Prosecutors have brought 26 allegations against Ziobro in the Justice Fund case. They include claims that he instructed subordinates to break the law, influenced grant procedures and helped ensure that public money went to entities that were not entitled to receive it.
Romanowski, a former deputy justice minister, has also been charged in the case. His current whereabouts are unclear. Polish media reported that he was seen in Serbia and Croatia after leaving an apartment in Budapest in May.
Marcin Romanowski. Photo: PAP/Paweł Supernak
Tusk's Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek said in late June that Serbia’s prosecutor-general had declared readiness to cooperate in Romanowski’s case, but did not know whether he was in Serbia.
Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership but is not part of the bloc.
(rt/gs)
Sources: IAR, PAP