Pennsylvania Lawmakers Urge Release of Marc Fogel

The recent prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia has resulted in the release of several Americans, including journalists Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, but has left Pennsylvania schoolteacher Marc Fogel still imprisoned. Fogel, who has been detained since August 2021 for possessing 17 grams of medical cannabis, is serving a 14-year sentence in a Russian penal colony. His wife expressed deep disappointment with the Biden administration for not including him in the swap, stating that he has not committed a crime deserving of such punishment. Pennsylvania lawmakers are now advocating for Fogel's inclusion in future negotiations, highlighting the injustice of his continued detention. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that efforts are underway to secure Fogel's release. The prisoner exchange has been described as the largest since the Cold War, raising further questions about the U.S. government's approach to securing the release of all wrongfully detained citizens.