PASSHE alum and Butler County native Marc Fogel stepped on U.S. soil for the first time in nearly four years after he was released from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.
Fogel, 63, was greeted by President Donald Trump, Senator Dave McCormick, and Representatives Chris DeLuzio (D-Aspinwall) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Peters Twp). Upon exiting the plane, Rep. Deluzio handed Fogel an Iron City Beer and a Steelers hat.
The release of Fogel comes at a time when tensions between the United States and Russia are tight.
“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now”, Fogel expressed in an interview with reporters in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.
“Thanks to the unwavering leadership of President Trump, Marc will soon be back on American soil, free where he belongs. This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal,” said Fogel’s family in an interview with CBS.
Fogel, a former worker at the United States embassy in Moscow, was serving a 14-year sentence in Russia after being arrested in 2021 in a Moscow airport when he was caught with 17 grams of marijuana, which his family said in a statement was for his chronic back pain. Attempts to bring Fogel home were slow during Former President Biden’s administration, with more and more Americans being released from Russia in Biden’s last two years.
In December 2024, Fogel was designated as “wrongfully detained” by the State Department. As part of the deal to bring Fogel home, the United States released Alexander Vinnik, a Russian citizen charged with money laundering.
Slippery Rock University’s Congressman, Mike Kelly (R-Butler), released the following statement:
“For years, I have met with the Fogels and have strongly advocated for Marc’s release. He is a Butler County native and Malphine is one of my constituents. Today is a great day for the Fogel family, who will be reunited in Western Pennsylvania once again.”
Michael Driscoll, the President of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where Fogel was a 1984 graduate, issued a statement on his release:
“There are tears of joy and thanksgiving in the Office of the IUP President today. Joy that Marc Fogel will finally be home and reunited with his family, and thanksgiving for all who advocated for his return.”
