ACTION NEWS FOUR BEGINS WITH BREAKING NEWS AND THE LOVE THAT I WAS GIVEN. SUSTAINED, SUSTAINED ME FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN A PRISON THAT HAD ME IN HOSPITALS FOR MORE THAN 100 DAYS. I WAS GIVEN MORE THAN 400 INJECTIONS IN THAT TIME, AND KNOWING I HAD THE SUPPORT OF MY FELLOW PENNSYLVANIANS, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS. IT WAS SO OVERWHELMING THAT. IT BROUGHT ME TO MY KNEES AND IT BROUGHT ME TO TEARS. THIS WAS THE BIG MOMENT. MARC FOGEL, HIS FAMILY AND PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR AREA HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR YEARS. THE OAKMONT NATIVE IS FINALLY BACK ON U.S. SOIL AFTER BEING DETAINED IN RUSSIA SINCE 2021, AND THIS PICTURE HERE, POSTED BY THE WHITE HOUSE, IT TELLS IT ALL. MARC FOGEL STEPPING OFF THE AIRPLANE WEARING A PITTSBURGH STEELERS HAT. WE ARE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW THIS BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT AT 11:00. I’M KRISTIN POWERS AND I’M MIKE CLARK. EARLIER TODAY, THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED HIS RELEASE. AND TONIGHT FOGEL MET WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. HE WAS DETAINED AT A RUSSIAN AIRPORT BACK IN 2021 FOR POSSESSING MEDICAL MARIJUANA. TONIGHT, MANY PEOPLE IN OUR AREA ARE CELEBRATING HIS FREEDOM. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER FELICITY TAYLOR HAS BEEN TRACKING REACTION. FELICITY, WHAT’S THE LATEST FROM FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOCAL LEADERS ON HIS RELEASE? WELL, KRISTEN, MIKE, THIS RIGHT HERE, A RETURN TO AMERICAN SOIL MARKS THE FINAL LEG OF THE JOURNEY FOR MARK FOGEL. THAT STARTED 1278 DAYS AGO. NOW, AMONG THOSE GREETING HIM IN WASHINGTON TONIGHT, SENATOR DAVE MCCORMICK, REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS DELUZIO AND OF COURSE, AN ICE COLD IRON CITY BEER. TONIGHT, WE’RE HEARING FROM HIS MOTHER AND JUST SOME OF THE MANY POLITICIANS WHO HELPED HER BRING HER SON HOME. I’M SURE HE’S GOING TO HAVE SOME REALLY BAD TIMES REMEMBERING, BUT I THINK ONCE HE’S WITH HIS FAMILY AND SEES, YOU KNOW, THE LOVE AND THE CARE EVERYBODY HAS FOR HIM, THAT IT WILL PICK HIM UP AND HOPEFULLY HE’LL GET BACK TO SOME KIND OF NORMAL FEELING. 95 YEAR OLD MORPHINE. FOGEL SAYS SHE DID EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO BRING HER SON HOME, AND HER FAMILY’S PRAYERS HAVE FINALLY BEEN ANSWERED. MOST IMPORTANT PRAYER IS A ROSARY, AND ME AND MY SISTERS SAID ONE EVERY NIGHT AT 930 FOR MARK. THIS IS JUST REMARKABLE NEWS. IT’S IT’S A REAL TESTAMENT, OBVIOUSLY, TO THE WORK OF OUR GOVERNMENT, TWO ADMINISTRATIONS. BUT I THINK IN A LARGER SENSE, IN PROBABLY A MORE, A MORE DIRECT WAY, IT’S A IT’S A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK OF THIS, THIS FAMILY. A BIPARTISAN EFFORT FROM PENNSYLVANIA POLITICIANS OVER THE PAST ALMOST FOUR YEARS. THE TURNING POINT. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DECLARING FOGEL WRONGFULLY DETAINED IN DECEMBER, MORPHINE WORKED WITH CURRENT, FORMER AND FUTURE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GET THE JOB DONE. SHE VISITED THEN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TRUMP AT HIS RALLY IN BUTLER IN JULY. THE PRESIDENT MET HER THEN AND PROMISED THAT IF HE IF HE WON, HE’D MAKE IT A REAL PRIORITY. AND I PROMISED HER THAT I’D TRY TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY IN THE CAMPAIGN AND IN THE SENATE. AND IT’S TURNED OUT ALL THAT FOCUS CAME TOGETHER. SENATOR DAVE MCCORMICK SAYS, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THERE WAS SOME CHATTER WHEN FOGEL WAS MOVED TO MOSCOW. THEN THIS MORNING, HE SAYS, IT ALL CAME TOGETHER. I HAD SET UP THIS BREAKFAST A WEEK OR SO AGO TO TALK ABOUT MARK FOGEL AND OTHER HOSTAGES, AND SO I PULLED THE HOSTAGE ENVOY, ADAM BOEHLER, ASIDE AND SAID, WHAT DO WE KNOW? AND HE SAID, I THINK THERE’S GOOD NEWS. I THINK HE’S GOING TO ACTUALLY FLY TODAY. FOGEL MAKING IT HOME WITH A DRINK IN HIS HAND AND A SMILE ON HIS FACE, A TESTAMENT TO HIS CHARACTER. THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO ENDURED. MARK WAS A TOUGH, TOUGH GUY TO ENDURE WHAT HE ENDURED ALL KINDS OF MEDICAL PROBLEMS WHILE HE WAS THERE, AND HIS FAMILY ADVOCATING FOR HIM. SO WE COULDN’T BE. WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER. FROM WASHINGTON, FOGEL WILL HEAD ON TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WHERE HE WILL UNDERGO A PHYSICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION BEFORE COMING HOME HERE TO PITTSBURGH. KRISTEN, MIKE, BACK TO YOU. FELICITY. THANK YOU. YOU HEARD FOGEL TALK IN WASHINGTON, D.C. EARLIER TONIGHT. HERE’S ANOTHER MOMENT WITH HIS SPECIAL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TONIGHT. I FEEL LIKE THE LUCKIEST MAN ON EARTH RIGHT NOW. AND. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT A HERO IN THIS AT ALL. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A HERO. THESE MEN THAT CAME FROM THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE ARE HEROES. THE SENATORS AND AND REPRESENTATIVES THAT PASSED LEGISLATION IN MY HONOR TO GET ME HOME. ARE THE HEROES. JOSH SHAPIRO APPLAUDING THE NEWS AS WELL AND THANKING THE WHITE HOUSE FOR BRINGING FOGEL HOME. REACTIONS CONTINUE TO POUR IN FROM MANY OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS. YOU CAN FIND MORE OF THOSE REACTIONS AND MORE ON T
Marc Fogel lands in Washington D.C. nearly four years after being detained in Russia
Updated: 11:18 PM EST Feb 11, 2025
Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel landed near Washington D.C. Tuesday night more than three years after he was arrested and detained in Russia back in 2021.U.S. officials said Fogel landed at Joint Base Andrews around 9:31 p.m. Fogel met with President Trump and media, where he expressed gratitude to those who helped bring him back to the United States. “I am not a hero in this at all,” Fogel said to reporters inside of the White House. “President Trump is a hero. These men that came from the diplomatic service and the senators and representatives that passed legislation to get me home are the heroes.” Fogel continued, saying “And the love that I was given from everyone sustained me for three and a half years (through the things I endured in prison). And knowing I had the support of my fellow Pennsylvania’s, family, and friends, it was so overwhelming that it brought me to my knees and tears. It was my energy, my being that kept me going that whole time. I will forever be indebted to all.” Fogel returned home following a release from National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, which read in part: “Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia.” Bringing Marc HomeAt the end of December, Fogel was declared “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. government. Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony in 2022 for drug trafficking after he was arrested for possessing medical marijuana, which was prescribed by a doctor in the United States.Fogel’s mother, Malphine Fogel, has been fighting to bring her son home since his arrest. In June of last year, a bipartisan resolution was passed by the Senate calling for his release.At the time, Malphine Fogel told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, “He has missed so much with his family. His youngest son graduated from college. Of course, you didn’t see that. The birthdays and wedding anniversary and, you know, it’s just really, really hard.”>> Read more about Malphine’s tireless fight to bring her son home. Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro was one of many political leaders in the commonwealth to speak out following the news of Marc’s release:”After more than 3 years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners, and all of his fellow Pennsylvanians in welcoming Marc Fogel home — exactly where he belongs. Thank you to those at the @WhiteHouse who made his release possible, and to his wife Jane, mom, siblings, and kids here in Pennsylvania who never, ever gave up.” >> Reactions from Pennsylvania’s political leadersFULL STATEMENT FROM WALTZ: “Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia. President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine. Since President Trump’s swearing-in, he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans being held are returned to the United States. By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership.” This story is developing. Check back shortly for the latest information as we continue to learn more about Fogel’s release. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox
PITTSBURGH —Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel landed near Washington D.C. Tuesday night more than three years after he was arrested and detained in Russia back in 2021.
U.S. officials said Fogel landed at Joint Base Andrews around 9:31 p.m.
Fogel met with President Trump and media, where he expressed gratitude to those who helped bring him back to the United States.
“I am not a hero in this at all,” Fogel said to reporters inside of the White House. “President Trump is a hero. These men that came from the diplomatic service and the senators and representatives that passed legislation to get me home are the heroes.”
Fogel continued, saying “And the love that I was given from everyone sustained me for three and a half years (through the things I endured in prison). And knowing I had the support of my fellow Pennsylvania’s, family, and friends, it was so overwhelming that it brought me to my knees and tears. It was my energy, my being that kept me going that whole time. I will forever be indebted to all.”
Fogel returned home following a release from National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, which read in part:
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia.”
Bringing Marc Home
At the end of December, Fogel was declared “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. government.
Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony in 2022 for drug trafficking after he was arrested for possessing medical marijuana, which was prescribed by a doctor in the United States.
Fogel’s mother, Malphine Fogel, has been fighting to bring her son home since his arrest. In June of last year, a bipartisan resolution was passed by the Senate calling for his release.
At the time, Malphine Fogel told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, “He has missed so much with his family. His youngest son graduated from college. Of course, you didn’t see that. The birthdays and wedding anniversary and, you know, it’s just really, really hard.”
>> Read more about Malphine’s tireless fight to bring her son home.
Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro was one of many political leaders in the commonwealth to speak out following the news of Marc’s release:
“After more than 3 years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners, and all of his fellow Pennsylvanians in welcoming Marc Fogel home — exactly where he belongs. Thank you to those at the @WhiteHouse who made his release possible, and to his wife Jane, mom, siblings, and kids here in Pennsylvania who never, ever gave up.”
>> Reactions from Pennsylvania’s political leaders
FULL STATEMENT FROM WALTZ:
“Today, President Donald J. Trump and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are able to announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia. President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine. Since President Trump’s swearing-in, he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans being held are returned to the United States. By tonight, Marc Fogel will be on American soil and reunited with his family and loved ones thanks to President Trump’s leadership.”
This story is developing. Check back shortly for the latest information as we continue to learn more about Fogel’s release.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox
