Kelly, Deluzio, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling for the Release of Marc Fogel, U.S. Schoolteacher Wrongfully Detained in Russia
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16) and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) led colleagues in the House and Senate to introduce a bipartisan concurrent resolution calling for the immediate release of Marc Fogel. Fogel is a U.S. citizen and career educator who Russia has imprisoned since August 2021 for carrying medical marijuana. The resolution urges the Biden Administration to prioritize securing the release of Mr. Fogel—an Oakmont resident and constituent of Rep. Deluzio’s—as well as all other U.S. citizens and permanent residents who Russia has wrongfully detained.
"This legislation reaffirms our collective commitment to bring Marc Fogel home. For too long, we have pressed the Biden administration to declare Mr. Fogel as wrongfully detained by the Russian government," said Representative Kelly. "This legislation not only reinforces our support for Mr. Fogel, but it also expresses our deepest sympathy for Marc’s mother, Malphine Fogel, who is my constituent and whom I have met with personally as we work to bring Marc home. No American should be left behind, and I pray Mr. Fogel will be reunited with his wonderful family as soon as possible.”
“We cannot sit by while Putin’s Russia plays political games with the lives of Americans like my Western Pennsylvania constituent Marc Fogel,” said Representative Deluzio. “Marc faces unjust and disproportionate charges for possession of his legally prescribed medical marijuana. Further, I am concerned that he is living in abysmal and harsh conditions that could threaten his health. We have got to bring Marc home. I am proud to join with Senator Casey and my colleagues to introduce this resolution to both amplify Marc’s story and grow support on Capitol Hill for his safe and speedy release.”
“Marc Fogel has devoted his life to educating students around the world, from Pittsburgh to Oman to Venezuela to Moscow. Because of what can only be understood as a political ploy by Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime, he was unjustly sentenced to 14 years in a Russian maximum-security penal colony,” said Senator Bob Casey (D-PA). “Marc is a loving father and dedicated teacher whose life is in danger. I urge President Biden and his administration to do everything possible to bring Marc home.”
“This week marks another year Marc Fogel will spend his birthday unjustly imprisoned in a Russian penal colony instead of with his loving family in the Pittsburgh area,” said Representative Reschenthaler. “It’s past time for the Biden administration to bring Marc home and reunite him with his loved ones.”
Other bipartisan co-sponsors of the House and Senate include, Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Dan Meuser (R-PA-09), Mike Thompson (R-PA-15), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Matt Cartwright (D-PA-08), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01), and Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Jon Tester (D-MT), and John Fetterman (D-PA).
BACKGROUND
In June, Rep. Kelly and his colleagues introduced The Marc Fogel Act in which he called for the State Department to designate Mr. Fogel as “wrongfully detained” and requires more transparency from the State Department to Congress on how wrongful detainment determinations are made. Representative Kelly and his staff have also met with members of the Fogel family. He will keep fighting to bring attention to Mr. Fogel’s case and to build public and political support to bring him home.
Marc Fogel, a Butler, Pennsylvania native, taught history courses at schools attended by children of U.S. diplomats in Colombia, Venezuela, Oman, Malaysia, and, for the last 10 years, in Russia. Fogel was detained on August 14, 2021, and is serving a 14-year hard-labor sentence for possession of medical marijuana used to treat his severe back injury, a charge very similar to that of WNBA player Brittney Griner.
Under federal law, Fogel meets at least six of the eleven established criteria to be designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department. He has yet to be classified as wrongfully detained. Griner was designated in less than three months after her arrest. On December 8, 2022, Griner was released from Russian prison via a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death.” Fogel remains in a Russian penal colony serving his sentence.
The full text of the resolution is available here.