Shenango Valley News

Washington, D.C. - Lawmakers from Pennsylvania are calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to include Marc Fogel, a Pittsburgh-area resident and Butler County native, in any prisoner swap negotiated with Russia. Fogel has been detained in Russia since August 2021, serving a 14-year sentence for possession of medical marijuana used to treat his severe back injury. The lawmakers are urging for Fogel's release, citing his deteriorating health and the need for action from the State Department.

In a bipartisan and bicameral letter, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler, Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, along with several other representatives, expressed their concerns and demanded Fogel's inclusion in any potential prisoner swap. The lawmakers stated, "Since Marc Fogel's arrest, numerous members of the House and Senate from both sides of the aisle have urged the State Department to take further action, including classifying Mr. Fogel as wrongfully detained."

Fogel's case bears striking similarities to that of WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was also arrested for possession of medical marijuana in Russia. Griner was designated as wrongfully detained and was released from Russian prison through a prisoner swap on December 8, 2022. The lawmakers emphasized the urgency of Fogel's situation, highlighting the significant delay in his classification as wrongfully detained.

"Under federal law, Fogel meets at least six of the eleven established criteria to be designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department. He has yet to be classified as wrongfully detained, while Griner was designated in less than three months after her arrest," the lawmakers stated in their letter to Secretary Blinken.

Rep. Kelly has been actively advocating for Fogel's release, having previously introduced The Marc Fogel Act in June. This legislation aims to amend the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, demanding more transparency from the State Department to Congress regarding wrongful detainment determinations.

Furthermore, on the one-year anniversary of Brittney Griner's release, Reps. Kelly and Reschenthaler published an op-ed on FoxNews.com, emphasizing the need for Fogel's safe and swift release.

Fogel, a history teacher, has been teaching in various countries, including Colombia, Venezuela, Oman, Malaysia, and Russia for the past decade. He was detained on August 14, 2021, and has been serving his sentence in a Russian penal colony since then.

As negotiations with Russia continue, the Pennsylvania lawmakers are urging Secretary Blinken to prioritize Fogel's case and ensure his inclusion in any prisoner swap. The lawmakers are hopeful that their collective efforts will lead to Fogel's safe return to the United States.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://kelly.house.gov/media/press-releases/kelly-pa-lawmakers-blinken-marc-fogel-must-be-included-any-prisoner-swap