Roman Giertych, a Member of Parliament representing the Civic Platform party and one of the central figures in the newly surfaced ‘tape scandal’ revealed by TV Republika, has publicly threatened legal action. Against whom? Investigative journalist Piotr Nisztor of the network. And he got a response!
The Tusk Tapes
TV Republika has today released the so-called Tusk Tapes — recordings that could send shockwaves through the Polish political scene. The excerpt published features a 2019 conversation between Roman Giertych and Donald Tusk.
The conversation touched on a number of sensitive topics, including a dispute between lawyer Giertych and then-PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna, the transfer of candidate endorsement signatures to Stanisław Gawłowski, and the political strategy surrounding Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska’s presidential candidacy. The recordings also contain offensive remarks about voters of right-wing parties and politicians, including members of the Confederation party.
Giertych Responds with Legal Threats
One of the main protagonists of this latest tape scandal, Roman Giertych, has already reacted to the revelations. He posted two entries on social media — one styled as a “statement,” the other filled with veiled threats.
“For the past two days, PiS-affiliated media outlets have been publishing fragments of my conversations recorded from June to September 2019 using the Israeli PEGASUS software as part of an illegal operation carried out against me by the CBA [Central Anti-Corruption Bureau]. This matter is currently under investigation by Team No. 3 of the National Prosecutor’s Office, where I hold the status of a victim. According to the CBA’s own statement, the recordings were destroyed, as they contained no evidence of any criminal activity. In fact, the recording of my conversation with Donald Tusk was already reported in 2022 by Gazeta Wyborcza in Wrocław. It turns out that these conversations were extracted before the government transition and are now in the hands of individuals linked to PiS. That, it seems, was the true purpose behind using Pegasus,” reads the first post.
Of course, Giertych brought up the Pegasus spyware angle. He continues: “The recording of conversations between a lawyer and his clients, the failure to properly destroy such recordings, their removal from the CBA, their delivery to the media, and the publication of those recordings are all very serious crimes. Those responsible will be held accountable.”
The Civic Platform MP also speculates that the timing of the tapes’ release may be connected to his recent challenge to the outcome of Poland’s presidential election — albeit unsuccessfully:
“As for the timing of the publication, I believe it is linked to my request for a recount in the presidential elections and the Supreme Court’s decision to permit a recount in 13 electoral commissions. Someone clearly has an interest in preventing this issue from progressing. A number of crimes have apparently been committed, PiS-affiliated media have been exposed to the risk of losing their broadcasting licenses — all for the sole purpose of attacking me. Fascinating. To those captivated by the content of private conversations, I wish you an enjoyable listen. I just don’t quite understand the excitement among PiS supporters who seem, by their own doing, to be transforming into ‘zjepy’ — a term dangerously close to a much worse word,” he writes.
However, Giertych’s true tone is revealed in a second post, where he admits that “at least some portions” of the tapes are genuine — and simultaneously threatens journalist Piotr Nisztor with charges.
“One more thing. I know that at least parts of the conversation with PDT [Prime Minister Donald Tusk] are real, because I remember them. But it should also be remembered that Piotr Nisztor, who is now once again facing charges, has already once been caught by a court fabricating tapes,” he claims.
Nisztor Responds: “He Can Shove Them!”
Giertych’s threats were swiftly met with a firm response from the man in question — Piotr Nisztor.
“Roman Giertych — and not for the first time — is blatantly lying. There was no tape fabrication, let alone any charges stemming from such accusations! As for the threats — he can shove them in his basement,” the TV Republika journalist wrote.
Michał Rachoń, program director at the Free Speech House, also weighed in:
“A politician who once wrote that Russia should be Poland’s strategic ally, now — when his buddy, with whom he bantered about who is ‘more German,’ oversees the security services, prosecutors, and the unlawful state apparatus — threatens investigative journalist Piotr Nisztor with charges,” he stated.
He added: “Prosecuting journalists for exposing the truth is a classic Soviet tactic. So it’s no surprise that Giertych is now drawing on that very tradition.”