Last week’s U.S.-Russian prisoner swap, which saw Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan released on Aug. 2, left one notable figure behind.
And a week later, the Pennsylvania senator issued a warning to President Joe Biden.
in statement Last Thursday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) said the exchange was “good news” for Messrs. Gershkovich and Whelan, but expressed disappointment that Pittsburgh teacher Mark Fogel was being left abandoned in Russia.
“While this prisoner exchange is good news for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and their families, Mark Vogel remains incarcerated in a Russian prison,” Casey said, noting that Vogel’s health “has deteriorated significantly” during his incarceration.
The statement came after Mr. Fogel’s 95-year-old mother, Marfin Fogel, slammed both Mr. Casey and Mr. Biden in an interview with The Washington Post last week, saying in particular that Mr. Casey “needs to do more to be designated as an illegal detainer,” a key label the State Department applies to overseas prisoners.
Vogel, now 65, was detained in August 2021 for allegedly attempting to enter Russia with 0.6 ounces of medical marijuana and was sentenced the following year to 14 years in prison.
According to Casey’s statement, Marfin fears she will never see her son again.
“While we celebrate today’s good news, we cannot forget Mark and the Vogel family,” Casey said.
Casey’s opponent, Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, met with Marvin Vogel on Wednesday and stressed the importance of his son being found “unfairly detained.”
“It’s very important that he be found to have been wrongfully detained,” McCormick said, “so that we can make sure he gets the medical care he needs.”
Former President Donald Trump also met with Marfin on the day he was shot by an assassin in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the Republican candidate promised to bring his son home if elected.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is It was the first time a Biden administration official had said so publicly, when he mentioned Mark Fogel during a press conference last Thursday.
Casey has repeatedly sought an agreement to negotiate Vogel’s release, including: Bipartisan resolution A bill requiring teachers to go home passed the Senate unanimously earlier this year.
The senator’s comments represent a rare public break with the Biden administration.
Casey was one of several battleground state Democrats who continued to support Biden after his dismal performance in the presidential debates in late June.
He voted in favor of Biden’s stated position, according to FiveThirtyEight’s records. 98.5% chance During the 117th Congress in 2021-22.
