PA lawmakers call for Trump administration to help bring local teacher home from Russian prison

WASHINGTON — Political leaders have renewed a push to get a local teacher out of a Russian prison.

A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers are urging Secretary of State Marc Rubio to bring Marc Fogel home.

Fogel, an Oakmont teacher, was detained nearly four years ago for having about half an ounce of medical marijuana in his luggage. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

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The Pennsylvania delegation of lawmakers sent Rubio a letter urging him to use all tools at his disposal to make a deal happen.

His family has called on leaders from both sides of the aisle to help get him back home.

“As I told Marc’s Mom, Mafa, when we spoke in August, we must do everything possible to get Marc home,” Senator Dave McCormick said. “I’m proud to stand with my Pennsylvania colleagues in solidarity of Marc and his family, with the strongest desire to secure his release. The Russian government has used Marc as a political pawn for too long, and we look forward to working with President Trump and Secretary Rubio to finally bring Marc home.”

McCormick’s fellow congressman Senator John Fetterman encourages similar action.

“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,” said Senator Fetterman. “This letter is proof that Pennsylvanians, regardless of party, are united in bringing Marc home. I’m proud to stand with my new colleague, Senator McCormick, in calling on Secretary Rubio to take bold, decisive action to make that happen.”

The lawmakers hope Rubio will:

• Resubmit a request every month for representatives from U.S. Embassy Moscow to visit Marc and use your influence to ensure Russian officials approve those requests.
• Arrange frequent medical visits to externally evaluate Marc’s physical and mental condition and to provide the prison’s medical staff with any specialized medications Marc may require.
• Offer regular engagement to the Fogel family between the Deputy Secretary of State, or another relevant senior official with visibility into Marc’s case.
• Provide regular briefings to interested congressional offices on Marc’s case.

Rubio vowed to prioritize Fogel’s release during his confirmation hearing.

The full list of lawmakers involved in the push was: David McCormick, John Fetterman, Ryan Mackenzie, Chris Deluzio, Dan Meuser, Chrissy Houlahan, Glenn Thomspon, Brendan F. Boyle, Guy Reschenthaler, Madeleine Dean, Bryan Fitzpatrick, Mike Kelly and Rob Bresnahan Jr.

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