Emotional Reunion: Russia Frees U.S. Teacher Marc Fogel After Three Years, Thanks to Trump Envoy's Negotiations
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Russia has released Marc Fogel, an American teacher who had been detained for over three years on drug charges. Fogel, who was arrested in August 2021 for bringing medical marijuana into Russia, was freed after negotiations led by Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate executive and close ally of former President Donald Trump. Witkoff, who serves as Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, personally flew to Moscow on his private jet to secure Fogel’s release. Fogel had been sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison in 2022, but only late last year did the Biden administration officially designate him as wrongfully detained. Fogel was flown back to the United States on Witkoff’s plane, where he was warmly welcomed at the White House by Trump. He was draped in an American flag and, visibly emotional, expressed his gratitude to the former president, saying, “I feel like the luckiest man on earth right now.” While the specifics of the dea...