US Imposes Sanctions On Senior Member Of The Hungarian Government

Washington, D.C. – The United States has imposed harsh sanctions today on a senior minister of the Hungarian government for alleged corruption, in a move which Budapest said it would challenge as soon as President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office later this month.

The US treasury accused Antal Rogán, chief of staff to the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, of alleged corruption. Although Rogán has never been charged, nor convicted, of these accusations in any jurisdiction.

The sanctions were passed under the Global Magnitsky Act, which bans sanctioned individuals from entering the United States, prohibits US companies from doing business with them, and freezes their assets under US jurisdiction.

According to international media reports, the move by the Biden administration to sanction Rogán has been in the works for nearly three years.

The U.S. ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman, who is a harsh critic of the Hungarian government—held a press conference, announcing sanctions against senior Hungarian government official Antal Rogan, at the U.S. embassy in Budapest, Hungary.

“Today’s designation was not a decision the United States has taken lightly. It is not common for the United States to designate a sitting minister. Even less common to do so in an Allied country,” said Pressman in a statement.

Former CPAC-Endorsed Republican Congressional Candidate and Senior Fellow at the Center for Fundamental Rights Bryan E. Leib, who is considered to be on President Trump’s shortlist for U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, released a bold statement in response to the sanctions:

• “President Biden’s Treasury Department has just sanctioned a senior member of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s cabinet, Antal Rogan, just two weeks before President Trump’s inauguration. This is absurd and 100% politically motivated!
• When people wonder why America isn’t respected on the world stage anymore it’s because of actions like this. Why does the United States of America meddle into the domestic affairs of Hungary, over and over again while we have so much political corruption ourselves from Democrats?
• America must stop meddling into the domestic affairs of our allies around the world and in particular, in Hungary. This meddling will come to a full stop on January 20, 2025.
• Shame on Activist (Ambassador) Pressman, who at every turn, has shown blatant disrespect to the Hungarian government while going out of his way to provoke them at every turn. That’s not diplomacy, it’s activism!”

Leib, who is a strong advocate strengthening the U.S.-Hungary relationship and mutual alliance concluded.

When people wonder why America isn’t respected on the world stage anymore it’s because of actions like this. Two weeks before President Trump takes power and the Biden Administration is playing these games. This action is politically motivated and designed to be Activist… https://t.co/RP3jWAjRNH

— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) January 7, 2025

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said:

• The US placing Antal Rogán, the minister heading the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, on a sanctions list was “personal revenge” by the outgoing US ambassador, who is leaving Hungary “without honor.”

‼️ The Minister of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office has just been added to the U.S. sanctions list. This is a personal act of revenge by the failed @USAmbHungary Ambassador Pressman, who is set to leave Hungary in a few days.

🔜 As of January 20, the United States…

— Balázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU) January 7, 2025