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Marc Fogel, an American detained in Russia, released after Trump’s visit

Washington – The White House announced on Tuesday that it has negotiated the launch of Marc FogelAn American school teacher who had been held in Russia since 2021.

The National Security Advisor of the National House, Michael Waltz, said that Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of President Trump in the Middle East, left Russian airspace with Fogel, which was serving a 14 -year sentence and was designated as “unfairly detained” by the United States at the end of last year. Waltz said he would be on American soil on Tuesday night.

“President Trump, Steve Witkoff and President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a good faith of the Russians and a sign that we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine” , he said in a statement. “From the swearing of President Trump, he has successfully assured the release of Americans detained worldwide, and President Trump will continue until all Americans are returned to the United States.”

The White House did not provide details about what the United States was renouncing in the agreement with Russia. Trump told reporters that he would greet Fogel at the White House on Tuesday night.

Adam Boehler, the Trump administration envoy for Hostages, published a photo of Fogel on the plane back to the United States:

A Professor of History of Pennsylvania, Fogel was arrested by the Russian authorities at Moscow airport in 2021. His family had said he had 17 grams of marijuana for medical reasons to treat chronic back pain.

His family had pressed against Mr. Trump’s predecessor, former President Joe Biden, to ensure his release, particularly after Fogel was out of the prisoners’ swaps negotiated by the previous administration. In December 2022, Russia launched the WNBA star Brittney Griner in a Exchange of prisoners one by one For international weapons trafficker Viktor fights.

Then, last August, the Biden administration He assured the launch of three more Americans from Russia – Wall Street Journal reporter Evan GershkovichMarine veteran Paul Whelan and Russian-American Radio Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva -As part of an exchange of prisoners of 24 people.

In addition to Fogel, that agreement omitted several other Americans imprisoned in Russia, including the musician Michael Travis LeakeUS Army personnel sergeant. UU. Black Gordon and Russian-American dancer Xenia Karelina.

In a statement, Fogel’s family thanked Mr. Trump and other allies who fought for his release.

“We are more than grateful, relieved and overwhelmed that after more than three years of detention, our father, husband and son, Marc Fogel, finally return home,” they said. “Thanks to the unwavering leadership of President Trump, Marc will soon return on American soil, free where he belongs. This has been the darkest and painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal.”

Martin de Luca and Andrew Smith, Fogel’s legal team, also praised the president and his administration for his work when he was released.

“Marc Fogel’s launch is historical, very late and a testimony of the power of strong leadership,” they said. “After years of bureaucratic inaction, including the negatives consisting of designating Marc as unfairly detained, President Trump said the launch of Marc in just a few weeks, without wasting time to take decisive measures to take Marc home.”

The senators of Pennsylvania, John Fetterman and Dave McCormick encouraged the launch of Fogel.

“The return to Marc Fogel’s house is very late, and I know that everything Pennsylvania, especially his family, will welcome him with open arms,” ​​Fetterman, a Democrat, wrote In X.

“I am delighted that Marc Fogel finally returns home after years of being unfairly celebrated in Russia,” McCormick, Republican, said in a publication. “I have been working with the administration on this from day one and I am grateful to President Trump and the Secretary Rubio for fulfilling his commitment to free Marc. As I told Marc’s mother, Mafa, when we talked in August, we had that does everything possible to take Marc home and it is a blessing that this day has finally arrived. “

Fogel’s mother, Malphine Fogel, had Biden criticized and his administration for the delay in designating his son as unfairly arrested. That determination made by the Secretary of State and clear the way for the offices of the State Department and federal agencies to work together to develop a plan to ensure the release of a detainee.

She filed a lawsuit Against the State Department last June, but the case was dismissed. Malphine Fogel was ready to call more public attention about her son’s arrest During a July 13 rally With Mr. Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, but the campaign event was overturned when a Gunman opened fire About the crowd. The president and two were injured, and a man died during the attempted murder.

“I was going to be on stage with him and I was going to mention the name (from Marc),” said Malphine Fogel to CBS News Pittsburgh last July. “We were going to put it for everyone to listen. Well, that didn’t happen because we didn’t get the stage.”

He met Mr. Trump before the demonstration and said he promised to ensure Marc Fogel’s liberation if he was chosen for a second mandate.


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