4 months ago
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(NewsNation) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NewsNation that American teacher Marc Fogel's Tuesday merchandise from Russia is origin for "celebration."
"Anytime an American comes location who's being held overseas similar this concern is, it's a clip for celebration," Rubio said. "We're blessed for him and for his family. It's a lawsuit we've followed precise intimately for a fig of years."
Rubio and hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler joined "CUOMO" via telephone connected their mode to prime up American teacher Marc Fogel, whose merchandise from Russian detainment was secured by the Trump medication Tuesday.
The brace pointed retired that Russia asked for thing successful instrumentality erstwhile releasing Fogel, which Rubio said shows "President Trump's committedness to bringing location Americans."
Image of Marc Fogel, an American past teacher who is being detained successful Russia connected marijuana charges. (Credit: Anne Fogel)
FILE - Lisa Hyland, left, and different household members of Marc Fogel, who has been detained successful Russia since August 2021, rally extracurricular the White House for his release, July 15, 2023, successful Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)
Fogel was arrested for bringing aesculapian marijuana into Russia successful 2021. In 2022, helium was sentenced to 14 years successful prison. On Tuesday, the Trump medication secured his instrumentality home.
The U.S. authorities did not initially statement Fogel as unlawfully detained, contempt doing truthful successful a akin lawsuit involving WNBA star Brittney Griner.
In 2024, the Biden medication negotiated the merchandise of Americans, including journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva arsenic good arsenic Whelan.
Paul Whelan: No mode Russia wanted thing for Marc Fogel
Though Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump support that the state wanted thing successful return, retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was held arsenic a Russian captive for much than 5 years, tells “CUOMO” helium doesn’t bargain it.
"The full crushed they clasp Americans, the full crushed they clasp the Tajiks and Uzbeks, is truthful that they tin nonstop immoderate benignant of price." Whelan said, adding that these arrests are much similar "kidnapping."
He clarified that helium doesn't judge politicians are needfully lying astir Russia's wants, but alternatively that determination are "things that are done nether the table."
No alien to Russian situation conditions and thought processes, Whelan told NewsNation: "They privation immoderate benignant of exchange. They privation sanctions relief. They privation immoderate benignant of, you know, détente with the Ukraine situation."
NewsNation's Kellie Meyer contributed to this report.
