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American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who has been in jail in Russia since being arrested on drug charges in 2021, has arrived again on U.S. soil.
Fogel was welcomed again to America by President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday night and mentioned he was “the luckiest man alive.”
Draped within the American flag and punching the air, Fogel appeared jubilant as he disembarked from a airplane on Tuesday evening.
Talking beside Trump at a press convention, an emotional Fogel mentioned he would “ceaselessly be indebted” to the president for securing his launch.
“I’m a middle-class faculty instructor who’s now in a dream world,” he mentioned.
Fogel additionally revealed that he was hospitalized “for greater than 100 days” whereas in Russian captivity and through that ordeal was given “greater than 400 injections.”
“Realizing I had the help of my fellow Pennsylvanians, my household, my pals, it was so overwhelming that it introduced me to my knees, and it introduced me to tears, however it was it was my power, it was my being that saved me going that entire time,” Fogel mentioned. “And I’ll ceaselessly be indebted to President Trump.”
Trump mentioned that he “appreciated” what President Vladimir Putin did within the deal to deliver Fogel dwelling, however didn’t share particulars of the settlement. “He was capable of pull it off for you, proper?” Trump mentioned to Fogel.
The president additionally confirmed that one other detained American can be launched on Wednesday.
“Any person else is being launched tomorrow that you’ll know of,” Trump advised reporters, however didn’t go into additional particulars.
Earlier within the day, a press release launched by White House nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz confirmed Fogel’s launch and that he can be reunited along with his household following “an trade” with Russia.
The assertion additionally highlighted the profitable launch of American residents “detained around the globe” by the Trump administration.
“Immediately, President Donald J. Trump and his Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff are capable of announce that Mr. Witkoff is leaving Russian airspace with Marc Fogel, an American who was detained by Russia,” the assertion learn.
“President Trump, Steve Witkoff and the President’s advisors negotiated an trade that serves as a present of excellent religion from the Russians and an indication we’re transferring in the appropriate route to finish the brutal and horrible warfare in Ukraine.”
Trump’s secretary of state Marco Rubio and Adam Boehler, Trump’s particular envoy for hostage affairs, earlier hinted concerning the different detained American as a consequence of be launched on Wednesday, but in addition wouldn’t give additional particulars.
“That’s going to be a shock for tomorrow,” Boehler advised CNN’s The Source anchor Kaitlan Collins.
Talking to Fox Information following the announcement, Fogel’s 95-year-old mom Malphine Fogel, mentioned her son can be “sore from hugs” after returning dwelling and thanked the president particularly.
“Trump promised and I can’t thank him sufficient, and Secretary Rubio, additionally, and anybody else who had a hand on this,” she mentioned. “I’m positive there have been a couple of who bought the ball rolling however I significantly wish to thank President Trump.”
Requested about Waltz’s remarks concerning the finish of the battle in Ukraine, she added: “No one needs to see the warfare go on, I simply hope there’s sufficient experience and sufficient feeling within the political area that they will get one thing achieved I feel it’s firstly what we ought to be eager about.”
Fogel was a instructor on the Anglo-American Faculty in Moscow, the place many diplomats from the U.S. Embassy ship their youngsters.
He was arrested in August 2021, after he was caught touring with 11 grams of medically prescribed marijuana, in response to his household and pals. Eight grams of hash oil was reportedly additionally present in his baggage.
In line with FreeMarcFogel.internet, the U.S. State Division advised his household on the time “to stay silent.”
“They did. Days turned weeks, weeks turned months. The Fogels continued to take their lead from the U.S. State Division who mentioned they have been doing the whole lot they might to get Marc dwelling,” the web site states.
Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in jail in Russia in June 2022.
It was not till October 2024 that Fogel was decided to be “wrongfully detained” by then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Since his detention, Fogel’s household has been outspoken in its criticism of the Biden administration and accused the previous president of “selecting winners and losers” and providing “particular therapy” to the likes of U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner.
Griner, 34, was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport in February 2022 for carrying vape cartridges containing marijuana focus cannabis oil in her baggage and later acquired a nine-year jail sentence.
Fogel’s household mentioned that they had been “overshadowed” within the media and with their appeals to the federal government, by Griner.
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