Former Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel has returned to American soil after years of captivity in Russia, thanks to the efforts of President Donald Trump. Fogel's release marks another success for the newly inaugurated president in bringing detained Americans home.
Fogel's ordeal began in 2021 when he was apprehended at a Russian airport for possessing medical marijuana. He subsequently received a 14-year sentence in a Russian penal colony. While members of Congress, including Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), advocated for his release and classification as a "wrongfully detained" individual, the Biden administration delayed this designation until late 2024, just weeks before leaving office.
President Donald Trump welcomes Marc Fogel back to the United Stated after being released from Russian custody, on Feb. 11, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Reschenthaler criticized the Biden administration's handling of Fogel's case, suggesting they overlooked him due to his lack of celebrity status. He contrasted this with the swift action taken in the case of Brittney Griner, who was designated as wrongfully detained shortly after her arrest in Russia for a drug offense and released in December 2022.
Ellen Keelan, center, and other family members rally outside the White House in July 2023 for the release of Marc Fogel, who had been detained in Russia since August 2021. (Stephanie Scarbrough, The Associated Press)
Despite bipartisan congressional efforts, including a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the introduction of the Marc Fogel Act, the Biden administration's designation was slow in coming. Reschenthaler attributes this delay to a reluctance to give Trump a political win. He also highlighted Trump's effectiveness in negotiating with foreign leaders, suggesting his strong stance compelled Russia to release Fogel.
Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania history teacher who was working at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, returns to U.S. soil on Feb. 11, 2025. (The White House via X)
A former Biden administration official defended their efforts, claiming they consistently advocated for Fogel's release regardless of his designation status. However, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) expressed frustration with what he perceived as stonewalling by the State Department. He noted that career officials seemed willing to act but were hindered by political appointees.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Pa., penned an August 2022 letter to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured here, urging him to classify Marc Fogel as having been "wrongfully detained." (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
House Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler was first notified in 2021 of Marc Fogel’s detention and began leading efforts to bring him home. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images )
Rep. Mike Kelly said within the "political State Department," there "just didn’t seem to be any energy toward getting that designation done." (Ben Curtis/The Associated Press )
Even former Trump administration officials, like National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, contributed to the effort, sending a letter to the Russian ambassador requesting Fogel's humanitarian release. Roger Carstens, the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, confirmed the bipartisan nature of these efforts, acknowledging O'Brien's contribution. Carstens stated that the Biden administration worked through various avenues to secure Fogel's freedom.
Former White House national security advisor Robert O’Brien, who served during the first Trump administration, also got involved in the effort to bring Marc Fogel home. (Eloisa Lopez/AFP via Getty Images)
Hostage negotiator Roger Carstens said the Biden administration did "work tirelessly to bring home Marc Fogel." (Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump greets former detainee Marc Fogel as he arrives at the White House on Feb. 11, 2025. (Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images)
Reschenthaler's presence at the White House to greet Fogel upon his return underscores the significance of Trump's role in securing his release. This event highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the handling of Americans detained abroad and the effectiveness of different approaches to securing their freedom.
