Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel, who was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison after being arrested with what he claimed was legally prescribed marijuana, has been freed and is heading back to the United States, the White House announced Tuesday.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia,” national security adviser Mike Waltz said in a statement.
“President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine,” Waltz continued. “Since President Trump’s swearing-in, he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans being held are returned to the United States. By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership.”
It was not immediately clear which or how many Russians held by the US were being released in exchange for Fogel’s freedom.
In August 2024, Fogel was left out of a prisoner swap negotiated by the Biden administration that secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, corporate security executive Paul Whelan and others.
