Marc Fogel’s family ‘overjoyed’ at release from Russian prison, return home
BUTLER TWP — In a news conference Tuesday night at the White House, Butler native Marc Fogel told the world how happy he was to be home and thanked those who helped make his release happen.
“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” he said. “I want you to know, I am not a hero, at all.”
He went on to thank President Donald Trump, members of his administration and lawmakers who helped secure his release from Russian prison.
“I am in awe of what they did,” he said.
Fogel also cited support from his family for helping him through his three-and-a-half year ordeal.
My family has been a force,“ he said. ”I think my 95-year-old mother is probably the most dynamic 95 year old on Earth right now.“
For their part, the Fogel family said they were “overjoyed” at his release during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
“We kept hoping, but it seemed to get further and further away. We prayed a lot. My entire family prayed his way out of there,” Malphine Fogel, Marc’s mother, said during a news conference.
Marc was detained at Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia in August 2021 with around half an ounce of medical marijuana prescribed for chronic back pain. He was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony.
Marc was not officially designated as “wrongfully detained” until October 2024, following the Fogel family filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of State over their failure to make the designation.
When Malphine received a phone call this morning from Marc, he greeted her with his typical greeting of “bonjourno,” Italian for “Good Day.” Thrown off guard by the timing of the call, she didn’t realize he was calling her from Moscow.
“I thought, ‘he doesn’t call at this time,’ and when he called, I thought it was so odd,” Malphine Fogel said. “And he said, ‘who else says bonjourno to you?’ He said, ‘I’m in the Moscow airport. I’m getting ready to board a plane. I’m going to Washington, D.C. I’m coming home.’”
Malphine and the family’s lawyer, Sasha Phillips, and Marc’s sister, Anne, hosted a news conference over Zoom on Tuesday evening at Malphine’s Butler Township home. Friends and family gathered alongside members of the media, while Malphine took a video call from NBC News and talked to local reporters, to celebrate her son’s release.
“He seems to be in fairly good spirits, we just need to get him home and hug him and find out everything that’s going on in his life,” Malphine said on her son’s condition. “He may or may not want to review it, but we need to hear all of it.”
“I’m looking forward to a very long walk in Montana,” Anne Fogel said. “It’s a moment we will all remember for a long time.”
As for the details of Marc Fogel’s return home, Phillips said it is developing in real time.
“We are certainly looking forward to welcoming him home whenever he gets here, day or night,” Phillips said,
During a media event at Malphine’s house, she was informed that President Donald Trump was expected to meet with Marc at the White House around 10 p.m. upon his arrival to U.S. soil.
At 9:45 p.m. Tuesday night, the White House’s official account on the X social media platform released a photo of Marc Fogel exiting a plane accompanied by the message, “MARC FOGEL IS BACK!!! PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!!!”
Malphine gave thanks to President Donald Trump, who she believes was instrumental in Marc’s release, as well as U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly, Guy Reschenthaler, Chris Deluzio and other Pennsylvania politicians who have called for Marc’s release.
“We are eternally grateful for his efforts with Dave McCormick, Mike Kelly and Guy Reschenthaler. I think they all had a hand in it,” Malphine said.
Michael Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, said Tuesday the U.S. and Russia “negotiated an exchange” to ensure Fogel’s release. He did not say what the U.S. side of the bargain entailed. Previous negotiations have occasionally involved reciprocal releases of Russians by the U.S. or its allies.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “We were treated very nicely by Russia, actually. I hope that's the beginning of a relationship where we can end that war.”
Those who had called for his release also reacted Tuesday on social media.
“For years, I have met with the Fogels and have strongly advocated for Marc’s release. He is a Butler County native, and Malphine is one of my constituents. Today is a great day for the Fogel family, who will be reunited in Western Pennsylvania once again,” Kelly said in a statement.
McCormick took to X as well to react to the news. He had brought up the issue amid Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s confirmation hearing.
“As I told Marc’s Mom, Mafa (Malphine), when we spoke in August, we had to do everything possible to get Marc home, and it is a blessing that this day has finally come,” McCormick posted on X Tuesday afternoon.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., offered thanks to the president and special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is credited with negotiating the deal.
“Marc Fogel’s return home is long overdue — and I know all of Pennsylvania, especially his family, will be welcoming him back with open arms,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
