Marc Fogel from Butler County released from the Russian prison

Born in Passhe and the Butler County, Marc Fogel, was on the US floor for the first time in almost four years after being released from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner change between the United States and Russia.

The 63-year-old Fogel was welcomed by President Donald Trump, Senator Dave McCormick and representative Chris Deluzio (D-Aspinwall) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-Peter's TWP). When Rep. Delucio left the plane, he handed Fogel an iron -City beer and a Steelers hat.

Fogel's publication comes at a time when the tensions between the United States and Russia are close.

“I feel like the happiest man on Earth at the moment,” Fogel expressed in an interview with reporters in the diplomatic reception room of the White House.

“Thanks to President Trump's unshakable guidance, Marc will soon be back on the American soil, where he belongs. This was the darkest and most painful time of our lives, but today we start healing, ”said Fogel's family in an interview with CBS.

Fogel, a former worker in the United States message in Moscow, served a 14-year prison sentence in Russia after he was arrested at a Moscow Airport in 2021 when he was caught with 17 grams of marijuana, which his family said in a explanation for his chronic back pain. The attempts to bring Fogel home were slow during the former President Biden's Administration, with more and more Americans being released from Russia in the past two years.

In December 2024, Fogel was described as “wrongly imprisoned” by the Foreign Ministry. As part of the deal to bring Fogel home, the United States published Alexander Vinnik, a Russian citizen who was charged with money laundering.

The MEP of the Slipery Rock University, Mike Kelly (R-Butler), published the following explanation:

“For years I have met with the fog and campaigned for the publication of Marc Stark. He is a native butler County and Malphine is one of my voters. Today is a great day for the Fogel family, which is reunited in West Pennsylvania. “

Michael Driscoll, President of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where Fogel was a graduate in 1984, submitted an explanation of his release:

“Today there are tears of joy and Thanksgiving in the IUP President office. Joy that Marc Fogel is finally at home and reunited with his family, and Thanksgiving for everyone who campaigned for his return. “