Griner Comes Home While Ill PA Man Languishes In Russian Prison

OAKMONT, PA — While the United States and Russia completed a prisoner swap Thursday to bring home WNBA star Brittney Griner, a Pennsylvania teacher remains imprisoned in Russia on charges similar to those that got her jailed.

Marc Fogel of Oakmont this summer was sentenced to 14 years in a maximum security prison after being caught with 17 grams of medical marijuana with to treat a spinal condition. He was arrested last year at a Moscow airport after going to Russia to teach.

Griner was released from Russian custody Thursday, more than nine months after being arrested for bringing vape cartridges containing hashish oil into a Moscow airport. Griner was swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, who is on his way home to Russia.

"Today, I joined President Biden, Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Sullivan, and Cherelle Griner in the Oval Office, as Cherelle spoke to her wife Brittney, who is now on her way back to the United States and to her wife’s loving embrace," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. "I am grateful to the State Department team and to our colleagues across the government who worked tirelessly to secure her release."

Blinken also said the U.S. remained committed to securing the release of former U.S. Marine who in 2020 was sentenced to 16 years in prison after Russian authorities accused him of being involved in an intelligence operation. There was no mention of Fogel, 61, although the state Department previously asked Russia to release him on humanitarian grounds.

That irked Republican U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District, who said on social media, "I will continue to relentlessly advocate for Pittsburgh native Marc Fogel’s release and for the State Department to classify him aswrongfully detained, something they have failed to do since his detainment in August 2021."

Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of the state's 16th Congressional District said he was deeply disappointed that the Biden administration was not able to secure Fogel's release.

"I urge the administration to include Mr. Fogel in any future negotiations, and I am once again calling on the State Department to further designate Mr. Fogel as 'wrongfully detained," Kelly said in statement. "He is serving 14 years for possessing 17 grams -- or just over half an ounce -- of medical marijuana. That is egregious, even under Russia's current laws."

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey stated that Fogel's family fears he will not survive his 14-year-sentence in a hard labor camp.

"The Biden administration, and the nation, cannot forget about Marc," Casey said in a statement. "Like Ms. Griner and others, Marc deserves to see his family again.”