WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pennsylvania’s senators, Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), have rallied their state’s entire congressional delegation in an extraordinary bipartisan effort to free Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania schoolteacher wrongfully detained in Russia. Their impassioned letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio represents a united demand for urgent action to end Fogel’s nearly four-year ordeal in a Russian penal colony.
Fogel, an Oakmont, Pennsylvania native, was detained in August 2021 after Russian authorities found 17 grams of medical marijuana in his luggage at Sheremetyevo Airport. The substance, prescribed by his doctor in the United States for chronic back pain, is strictly illegal under Russian law. Despite its minor nature, Russian courts sentenced him to an astonishing 14 years in one of the country’s most brutal penal colonies, igniting outrage among his family, community, and lawmakers.
“As I told Marc’s Mom, Mafa, when we spoke in August, we must do everything possible to get Marc home,” Senator McCormick stressed. “The Russian government has used Marc as a political pawn for too long. I’m proud to stand with my Pennsylvania colleagues in solidarity with Marc and his family, and I look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Rubio to secure Marc’s release.”
Fetterman echoed that resolve, highlighting the human cost of this international injustice. “Marc Fogel is a good man who made a mistake, and now he’s facing an inhumane sentence in a notoriously brutal Russian prison. Over the past two years, I’ve fought relentlessly to bring Marc home, and I’m not stopping until we get it done. This letter shows that Pennsylvanians, regardless of party, are united in this fight. I’m proud to stand with Senator McCormick in calling on Secretary Rubio to take bold, decisive action.”
A Unified Call for Action
The letter to Secretary Rubio, signed by the entire 13-member Pennsylvania delegation, is one of the strongest displays of bipartisanship in this Congress. Lawmakers across party lines have demanded that Rubio exhaust every diplomatic channel to achieve Fogel’s release. Their requests include consistent resubmissions for U.S. Embassy representatives to visit Fogel, arranging medical evaluations to assess his deteriorating health, and ensuring his family receives frequent updates about their efforts.
The letter also emphasized the symbolic weight of Fogel’s detention, underscoring the Kremlin’s use of the teacher as a “political pawn” while straining an already tenuous U.S.-Russia relationship. His exclusion from a 2024 multi-country prisoner swap added to frustrations over inconsistent prioritization of Americans detained abroad, especially since Fogel’s case was designated as a wrongful detention under the Levinson Act in December that year.
A Heartbreaking Story of Detention
Marc Fogel’s ordeal began when he and his wife, Jane, returned to Russia to teach at the Anglo-American School of Moscow, where they had worked since 2012. Their trip in 2021, meant to teach their final year before returning to the United States, turned into a nightmare when Russian authorities arrested Fogel at the airport for the medical marijuana in his bag. Since then, Fogel has endured isolation, separation from his family, and rapidly declining health in a high-security penal colony notorious for harsh conditions.
The case has become emblematic of Russia’s hardline stance on international drug enforcement as well as its willingness to use detainees as bargaining chips in geopolitical disputes. For Fogel’s family, the years have been filled with heartbreak and uncertainty.
Meanwhile, his mother, Malphine (Mafa), and sister, Anne, have worked tirelessly to keep his name in the spotlight. “We have more hope now than we have ever,” said Mafa, adding that the community’s prayers have sustained them through the darkest moments.
The Diplomatic Road Ahead
The delegation’s coordinated appeal comes at a critical juncture in U.S.-Russia diplomacy. Secretary Rubio and President Trump face the immense challenge of navigating tense bilateral relations while advocating for the release of Fogel and others unlawfully detained. Fogel’s case, according to lawmakers, exposes serious gaps in the consistency of U.S. efforts to free wrongfully detained citizens, raising questions about diplomatic priorities and the transparency of such negotiations.
Russia’s refusal to include Fogel in past prisoner swaps further complicates the path forward. While high-profile detainees like WNBA player Brittney Griner have returned home, Marc remains imprisoned, amplifying criticisms that cases involving Americans with less public attention receive slower responses and fewer resources.
Impacts on U.S.-Russia Relations
Fetterman and McCormick’s plea is not only a fight for justice but also a reflection of the broader test of U.S. diplomatic strength against adversarial powers like Russia. Successful resolution of Fogel’s case could foster some goodwill in an otherwise hostile diplomatic climate, while failure might intensify scrutiny on how U.S. officials handle politically sensitive detentions.
At the same time, this bipartisan effort sends a broader message to the international community about the unity and determination of American lawmakers, regardless of party, in protecting the rights and freedom of U.S. citizens abroad.
A Community United
Back in Pennsylvania, the call for justice resonates deeply. Community members have painted murals in Fogel’s honor, held vigils, and lobbied for his release. Their efforts, coupled with the steadfast advocacy of his family, have generated growing pressure on officials to act on his behalf.
For now, Fogel’s supporters, family, and lawmakers hope their unified message will be heard loud and clear by Secretary Rubio, Moscow, and the international community. “Only the President of the United States and Secretary of State can make the hard choices necessary to bring Marc home,” the letter reads. “We are here to help you make those choices.”
A Glimmer of Hope
Marc Fogel’s fate remains uncertain, but the bipartisan drive led by McCormick and Fetterman marks a powerful step toward achieving his release. For Pennsylvanians and Americans at large, it’s both a reminder of the risks of global travel and an affirmation of the nation’s enduring commitment to defending its citizens from unlawful imprisonment abroad.
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