Editorial: U.S. needs to make more and faster strides on Fogel release
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It took only nine months, but the U.S. Senate took its first step toward pushing for Marc Fogel’s release from a Russian prison.
At this rate, the Oakmont teacher may serve his whole sentence before he receives any real help.
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted for a bipartisan concurrent resolution calling for Fogel’s immediate release. It was introduced by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, in July. While Fogel sat in a penal colony, labeled as a drug dealer for the small amount of medical marijuana legally prescribed for him in Pennsylvania, the resolution sat in committee.
“The United States must do everything possible to bring Marc home and show our enemies that Americans aren’t to be used in their political games,” Casey said in a statement.
Yes, the United States must. But is the government really doing all it can or all it should?
President Joe Biden does not mention Fogel’s name, even when discussing other Russian prisoners such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. Fogel was arrested months before WNBA star Brittney Griner. She came home amid intense pressure in time for Christmas 2022.
A House bill introduced last year bears Fogel’s name. It requires the State Department to keep legislators in the loop about foreign prisoners and the key designation “wrongfully detained.” Gershkovich and Whelan have been so labeled. Fogel has not. That bill keeps collecting co- sponsors but has not progressed.
Casey’s Senate bill requires only the agreement of elected officials that a man who taught kids in foreign countries shouldn’t die in a foreign prison. Despite lawmaker after lawmaker signing letters and sending out press releases in support of Fogel, the path from introduction to committee has moved like molasses in a Siberian winter.
There are reasons for negotiations with Russia to take time, not the least of which is President Vladimir Putin’s war with Ukraine and desire to maintain the strongman persona he perfected as a KGB agent.
“Clearly Marc’s 14-year sentence is a bargaining chip for Putin against the United States,” Casey said in March on the Senate floor.
But there is no reason for the U.S. to take its time, other than the dysfunctional morass that has become our legislature. The Senate should pass Casey’s bill as soon as possible and send it to the House to do the same.
And Biden should say Fogel’s name and demand his release.