One year after Marc Fogel was brought from a Russian prison to the White House, the former schoolteacher is celebrating his freedom alongside his 96-year-old mother and the lawmakers who never stopped fighting for him.
Fogel, who spent more than three years imprisoned in Russia, returned to the United States in February after President Donald Trump secured his release. While Fogel has largely stayed out of the spotlight over the past year, those closest to him say he is still adjusting to life back home.
So is his mother, Malphine, who says she’s still not used to the fact that her son is home.
“I still wake up praying that Marc comes home — it just hasn’t fully registered yet,” Malphine Fogel told The Daily Wire. “But he’s doing well. He hasn’t talked a whole lot about his experience, but he’s enjoying family life again, catching up on sports, and relishing every moment.”
Marc Fogel in a Russian prison (Courtesy)
Fogel, 64, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for possessing medical marijuana in 2021 when he arrived in Moscow with his wife, Jane. An employee of the Anglo-American School of Moscow, Fogel spent 27 years teaching the children overseas, and was planning to retire the year he was arrested. An American doctor prescribed the marijuana after Fogel had surgeries on his back, shoulder, and knee.
The State Department designated Fogel as “wrongfully detained” last December. Those involved in his case say he may have been targeted because of the school where he worked, which closed in April 2023 and was labeled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities. At the time, the United States government condemned the closure of the school for diplomats’ children, calling it “troubling” and denouncing the shutdown as occurring “without legitimate cause.”
Throughout Fogel’s imprisonment, his family waged a relentless campaign to keep his case in the public eye and pressure politicians to act to secure his freedom.
Marc Fogel returning to the United States
Lawmakers who helped bring about Fogel’s release are marking the anniversary of his freedom, including Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), who gave the credit to President Trump.
“His release was a top priority of mine in Congress, where I led the fight to force the Biden administration to bring him home,” Reschenthaler told The Daily Wire. “While our pleas to President Biden went unanswered, President Trump acted swiftly and secured Marc’s freedom just weeks after his inauguration.”
In August 2024, The Daily Wire published an exclusive recording of Fogel saying his “soul is dead” after being left out of a prisoner swap with Russia brokered by the Biden administration. He described feeling like a “second-class citizen” as higher-profile Americans, including WNBA player Brittney Griner and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, were brought home. The Fogel family had long been frustrated that he was not immediately granted the same “wrongfully detained” status — which would have unlocked financial support for his medical care — that Griner and Gershkovich received.
Instead, the Fogel family turned their attention to then-candidate Trump. Malphine met with Trump at his July 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he told her he would do everything he could to free her son if elected. She was scheduled to appear on stage with Trump until a would-be assassin fired at him.
“He did make good on his promise,” Malphine told The Daily Wire. “He promised to do it, and it happened immediately. We’re always going to be grateful for that. Just truly grateful.”
When the shooting occurred, Malphine was just about 25 feet from President Trump and standing next to Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA). He, too, promised to push for Fogel’s release before taking office.
“I remain overjoyed and deeply proud of President Trump and his team for moving with urgency to bring Marc Fogel home,” McCormick told The Daily Wire. “Standing next to President Trump, I first met Marc’s mother in his hometown of Butler, where I promised to do everything I could to help bring him home. Dina and I renewed that promise when we later hosted her in our Pittsburgh home.”
Malphine Fogel with Pennsylvania GOP national committee woman Christine Toretti, Sen. Dave McCormick, and Rep. Dan Meuser.
After departing Russia with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Fogel flew straight to Washington, where he was greeted at the White House by President Trump, McCormick, and other officials. He said he felt like “the luckiest man on earth” and called Trump, State Department officials, and the elected officials who worked for his release heroes.
“Never has one owed so much to so many,” Fogel said, with his own take on a Winston Churchill quote. “I am in awe of what they all did.”
McCormick added that “greeting Marc at the White House remains my best day in the U.S. Senate.”
McCormick said he teamed up with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) to push for Fogel to receive the “wrongfully detained” designation and noted that his very first question to Secretary Marco Rubio during his Senate confirmation hearing was about Fogel.
“We never let go,” McCormick said. “I am filled with relief and gratitude to know he is safe at home.”
Marc Fogel holding an Iron City Beer at the White House. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), who was also at the White House one year ago, greeted Fogel with a handshake and an Iron City Beer — the local favorite from Fogel’s home of Western Pennsylvania,
“I was proud to work with the Pennsylvania congressional delegation across parties, two administrations, and several years to help bring my Western Pennsylvania constituent Marc Fogel home,” Deluzio said. “It was a long road for Marc, but every American should expect their representatives and government to fight for them if they are ever wrongfully detained — even if they aren’t famous or powerful.”
As Marc Fogel marks one year of freedom, the relief and gratitude are still palpable. Malphine recalled the whirlwind of his return — so sudden that the family didn’t have time to make it to Washington to greet him.
“I attribute it all to prayers. I really, really do,” she said. “I had so many people praying for Marc, and I think God was getting tired of hearing from me.”
