Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) released the following statement on the release of Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania school teacher who was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly four years:
“Marc Fogel’s return home is long overdue—and I know all of Pennsylvania, especially his family, will be welcoming him back with open arms.
“I commend President Trump and Steve Witkoff for their efforts in finally bringing Marc home.”
Senator Fetterman, alongside bipartisan efforts from both Pennsylvania Senators and the commonwealth’s entire congressional delegation, has been at the forefront of advocating for Marc Fogel’s release. Marc, who was arrested in August 2021 after Russian authorities found medical marijuana prescribed for his chronic back pain, was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony.
Just last month, he joined Senator McCormick and 11 members of the Pennsylvania House Delegation in a letter to Secretary Rubio urging him to use all the tools at his disposal to bring Fogel home. In July 2023, Senator Fetterman also joined his colleagues in cosponsoring a bipartisan concurrent resolution calling for Fogel’s release. The resolution was unanimously agreed to in the Senate on June 4, 2024.
