Westmoreland Review

Washington, D.C. - Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers are calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to ensure that Pittsburgh-native Marc Fogel is included in any prisoner swap made with Russia. Fogel has been detained in Russia since August 2021 and is currently serving a 14-year sentence for possession of medical marijuana.

In a bipartisan and bicameral letter, the lawmakers emphasized the urgency of Fogel's situation and urged the State Department to take action. They wrote, "Since Marc Fogel's arrest, numerous members of the House and Senate from both sides of the aisle have urged the State Department to take further action, including classifying Mr. Fogel as wrongfully detained. Unfortunately, this designation process has stalled while Mr. Fogel's health has deteriorated. As negotiations are ongoing with the Russian Federation, we respectfully request that any potential prisoner swap must include Mr. Fogel."

The letter also highlighted the fact that Fogel meets the criteria to be designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department under federal law. However, he has yet to receive this classification, while WNBA player Brittney Griner, who faced a similar charge, was designated as wrongfully detained and released through a prisoner swap in less than three months.

Fogel's case has garnered attention and support from lawmakers, leading to several efforts by Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler to secure his release. In June 2023, Reschenthaler introduced the Marc Fogel Act, which would require the State Department to provide Congress with documents and communications on why a wrongful determination has or has not been made in cases of U.S. nationals detained abroad within six months of arrest.

Reschenthaler also led a letter to Secretary Blinken in August 2022, urging the State Department to classify Fogel as wrongfully detained. In October 2022, he led a bipartisan letter demanding the prioritization of Fogel's release, and in November 2022, introduced a resolution of inquiry directing President Biden and Secretary Blinken to provide the U.S. House of Representatives with all documents relating to the review of Fogel's wrongful detention status.

The lawmakers' efforts continued in February 2023 when Reschenthaler and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul expressed serious concern to Secretary Blinken over the State Department's failure to provide information on why Fogel has not been classified as wrongfully detained.

The full text of the letter can be found [here](https://reschenthaler.house.gov/uploadedfiles/signed_pa_delegation_fogel_letter_to_sec_blinken.pdf).

As negotiations continue with Russia, the Pennsylvania lawmakers are steadfast in their commitment to securing Fogel's release. They are calling on Secretary Blinken to ensure that any potential prisoner swap includes Marc Fogel, along with Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich.

It remains to be seen how the State Department will respond to this latest plea for Fogel's inclusion in a prisoner swap.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-pa-lawmakers-to-blinken-marc-fogel-must-be-included-in-any-prisoner-swap