US Senator Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) For the first time he met Malphine Fogel, a 95-year-old mother Marc Fogel, who came to the United States on Tuesday evening after years of Russian captivity, at the rally of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pa. July 2024
What ultimately became known as the day when the deadly shooting in Butler Farm also meant the beginning of the accelerated effort of McCormick, Trump and a double -sided group of selected Pennsylvania officials to bring Marc Fogel home, a Teacher on the international arena and from the butler who was trapped in Russia since August 2021 for having medical marijuana prescribed for chronic back pain.
In an interview with Inquirer a few hours after the announcement of the release of Fogel McCormick, he attributed this Cross coalition, continuous social awareness brought to Fogel’s case, and the rapid actions of Trump’s administration as crucial for Fogel’s return.
McCormick said that when Trump met Malphine Fogel, who was sitting in the first place at the rally of Butler, he Promised To make her son a priority if she returns to an oval office.
“I am particularly excited that his mother – and his mother 95 – I am sure that she thought there was a real risk, that she would never hug her son again or see her son, and here we will be successful,” said McCormick.
With the American The flag wrapped around his neckFogel He came to Washington on Tuesday evening – His first time on American land for over three years – earlier Meeting with Trump, McCormick and other White House leaders.
Fogel was marked as “unlawfully detained” in December 2024 at the end of the administration of former president Joe Biden. This status allows those who were unlawfully imprisoned, like American journalist Evan Gershkovich and American Paul Whelan, receive more support from US officials.
A double -sided group from the Capitol Hill delegation in Pennsylvania also wrote a letter to the Secretary of State Marco Rubio on January 23, asking him to “do everything in your power to bring Marc home.” McCormick points to these efforts as key moments that, I hope, helped accelerate the process.
. letter was signed by McCormick and Senator John Fetterman (D., Pa.); Democratic US representatives. Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, Brendan Boyle and Madeleine Dean; and Republican representatives of the USA. Ryan Mackenzie, Dan Meuser, Glenn “GT” Thompson, Guy Rescementhaler, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Kelly and Rob Bresnahan Jr.
According to the unifying tone of the effort of the return of McCormick and other US senators learned about the release of Fogel during a double -sided breakfast with Adam Boehler, a special presidential envoy for hostages, on Tuesday morning.
“This is one thing that we can all agree to,” said McCormick. “We must bring Americans home, but it requires leadership and focus, and that’s where I grant President Trump to recognition.”
Democrats from Pennsylvania also gave the administration of Trump her flowers on Tuesday.
“After more than 3 years in Russian captivity, I join his family, our federal partners and all his other Pennsylvanians in the welcome of the house Marc Fogel – exactly where it belongs,” he said Governor Josh Shapiro in the OX statement. “Thank you from the White House who enabled him to release, and his wife Jane, mother, siblings and children here in Pennsylvania, who never gave up.”
And Fetterman, who decided to work on the party line with the modern administration of Trump, said: “Return home Marc Fogel is long late – and I know that all Pennsylvania, especially his family, will welcome him with open arms. I praise President Trump and Steve Witkoff for their efforts in the final bringing of March home. “
Despite his differences, McCormick signaled that Democrats and Republicans may in the future be the possibilities of cooperation on foreign policy, pointing to his own relations with Fetterman, which, like McCormick, is an avid supporter of Israel.
“I want to fulfill the promises that I made in the Pennsylvani campaign, but, you know, the fulfillment of these promises may often require finding ways to cooperate with Democrats, and I will gladly do it in pursuit of the service of the Pennsylvania service. “
