Swedish MP Katja Nyberg (SD) has broken her silence on suspicions of gross drunk driving and a drug offense. In a video on X, she labels the media coverage as public character assassination and stresses the presumption of innocence. The investigation continues after she was stopped by police during the holiday period between Christmas and New Year.
Katja Nyberg, a member of parliament for the Sweden Democrats (SD), was stopped by police east of Stockholm during the days between Christmas and New Year in connection with a traffic incident. She is suspected of gross drunk driving and a minor drug offense after a bag containing white powder, suspected narcotics, was found during a body search. Quick tests showed positive, but final results from blood and powder analysis are expected only in early February, according to prosecutor Anders Jakobsson. Nyberg has previously denied the allegations, stating she does not recognize the details. On January 15, SD requested her dismissal from her assignments. After a period of silence, Nyberg posted a video on X on January 26 criticizing the media's handling of the case. 'It is not journalism – it is public character assassination,' she says, adding that the narrative was established early without fact-checking. She emphasizes that in Sweden, one is innocent until proven guilty, even as a public figure, and that legal security has been sidelined due to leaks and sensational reporting. 'This is not just about me. It is about how quickly people are judged in public,' she stresses, mentioning the impact on her family. SD press chief Oskar Cavalli-Björkman described the video as Nyberg's personal choice but noted it prolongs media coverage and is negative for the party. The party is awaiting official facts to assess the situation.