( File Photo of Congressman Lamb)

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) issued the following statement following President Biden’s securing the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from wrongful detention in Russia:

“The release of Britney Griner is good news, but the Administration cannot forget about the other Americans wrongfully detained in Russia, including PA-17 native Marc Fogel.  The administration must do more to secure Mr. Fogel’s release.  The State Department must put the full weight of the United States government behind the effort to secure his freedom, and keep his family and congressional advocates better informed about the progress.”

In October, Lamb led letter with Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) and Senator Bob Casey (PA) and a coalition of bipartisan Members of Congress to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to urge the U.S. Department of State to classify Oakmont, PA native Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained.  The letter further calls on the State Department to work to bring Mr. Fogel home safely.

Fogel was detained by Russian authorities on August 14, 2021 and is serving a 14-year hard-labor sentence for possession of medical marijuana used to treat a severe back injury.  This past June, Fogel was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in a Russian prison and in August, Fogel’s appeal was denied.  Following this denial, he is imprisoned in a maximum-security correctional colony.