Pennsylvanians celebrate return of native son

(The Center Square) – Western Pennsylvanians are celebrating Wednesday after the release of American history teacher Marc Fogel from a Russian labor camp in exchange for an unnamed Russian citizen.

Fogel has been the focus of years of effort petitioning the U.S. government to push for his release. Legislators and family members were frustrated to see his name omitted from high-profile prisoner exchanges in 2022 and 2024.

He was arrested by Russian authorities after about a half ounce of medical marijuana prescribed in the U.S. was found in his luggage in 2021. In 2024, he was deemed “wrongfully detained” by state officials.

The Butler native made a snowy visit to the White House on his way home while wearing a Steelers hat. He said he felt like, “the luckiest man on Earth right now.”

“Thank you @POTUS for bringing Marc home! All of Pennsylvania is happy he is back safely, especially his amazing 95 year old mom, Mafa, who never stopped fighting for his release,” wrote Senator Dave McCormick, R-Penn, who was among those welcoming Fogel to the White House.

“We kept hoping, but it seemed to get further and further away. We prayed a lot. My entire family prayed his way out of there,” said Fogel’s mother, Malphine Fogel.

The nonagenarian has been his most resolute supporter, even filing a lawsuit against the State Department last year. In Butler, she asked Trump to bring her son home at the July rally that ended with an attempt on the then-candidate’s life and the death of attendee Corey Comperatore.

“When President Trump met with Marc Fogel’s mother, Malphine, in Butler on July 13, 2024, he pledged to do everything he could to bring Marc home safely. Today, President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and the Trump administration have fulfilled this promise,” wrote Butler’s Rep. Mark Kelly, R-Penn.

“After three long years of unjust imprisonment, Marc Fogel is finally coming home,” wrote Rep. Summer Lee of Pittsburgh on X. “His release is a testament to his family’s unwavering love, their relentless advocacy, and a community that never stopped fighting for him. Today, we celebrate their victory.”

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., echoed his fellow lawmakers’ sentiments. “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.”

State legislators joined the chorus as well. Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Butler, shared an image of Fogel drinking a can of Pittsburgh-based Iron City beer on Facebook, writing in a separate post, “IT HAS HAPPENED! Amazing work by President Trump, Congressman Mike Kelly, Senator Dave McCormick, and Senator John Fetterman for making this happen. Welcome home to Butler county!”

The exchange was brokered by the Trump administration, and Fogel returned alongside Steve Witkoff, the president’s Special Envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff also had a role in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which led to the release of Israeli-American Keith Siegel last week.

President Trump’s early diplomatic efforts have also led to the release of six U.S. prisoners from Venezuela last week. Their release came with an agreement for the nation to accept the return of Venezuelan nationals amongst the scores of deportations under new U.S. immigration policy.

The U.S. does not view Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate leader of the country in light of his opponent, Edmundo Gonzalez’s apparent electoral win. While the Biden administration did not maintain diplomatic ties with Maduro, the U.S. did secure the release of 15 American detainees from Venezuela in 2022 and 2023 under Biden’s leadership.

The releases are major wins for an administration that has seen a swift but chaotic start, while some express concern about thawing diplomatic relations with autocratic leaders like Putin and Maduro with whom the U.S. has not been historically aligned.