Mother Of Teacher Wrongfully Imprisoned In Russia Says Trump Gives Her Hope Of Reuniting With Son

The 95-year-old mother of an American teacher who has been imprisoned at a high-security penal colony in Russia for four years said she has hope that President Donald Trump will secure her son’s freedom before she dies.

“We are rooting for President Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio to bring Marc home,” Malphine Fogel told The Daily Wire. “I know a lot of people in the administration know his name, and I just hope that they follow through and get something done.”

The 63-year-old was given a 14-year prison sentence for possessing medical marijuana in 2021. An employee of the Anglo-American School of Moscow, Marc Fogel spent 27 years teaching overseas, and was planning to retire the year he was arrested. An American doctor prescribed the marijuana after Fogel had surgeries on his back, shoulder, and knee. 

“Anything could happen, it would break Marc’s heart to not be able to see me again,” she said. “I’m sure he worries about me.”

The State Department designated Fogel as “wrongfully detained” in December.

Malphine met with President Donald Trump at his July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he told her he would do everything he could to free her son if elected.

“When I met President Trump, he told me to take his arm because he could see I struggle with walking after I broke my kneecap,” she said. “He was very cordial and interested in my son’s situation. I just kept telling him he needs to remember Marc’s name.”

Malphine was scheduled to appear on stage with Trump until a would-be assassin fired at Trump. Fogel was standing about 25 feet away from Trump when the shots rang out.

Malphine said Trump repeated Marc’s name and promised to get him out three times. 

While she hasn’t heard directly from Trump since last July, she believes the president remembers the meeting and will honor his word.

A State Department spokesperson told The Daily Wire that the United States has been continuing efforts to bring Fogel home and will not “rest until Marc and all Americans wrongfully detained around the world are returned home.”

Fogel has strong allies in his corner, including newly-elected Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) who has relentlessly advocated for Fogel’s release. During Rubio’s confirmation hearing, McCormick asked about Fogel.

“This is a case that has to be elevated and hopefully one that can be done through strong private diplomacy at a minimum as a goodwill gesture because if they are not willing to do this … then I think the chances of improvement in U.S.-Russia relations are impossible,” Rubio said.

He added that he has met with Fogel’s family in the past, and believes Marc was arrested because of an order in Russia to arrest Americans for anything they can be charged with in order to exchange them in the future.

Marco Rubio just said that improving U.S.-Russia relations will be impossible unless Russian authorities release Marc Fogel, an American schoolteacher who has been imprisoned in Russia for over three years.

I’ve been covering Fogel’s case for months. It is a sad one. pic.twitter.com/szP45AtmyD

— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) January 15, 2025

According to Free Marc Fogel spokesperson Vicki Iseman, the majority of cases like Fogel’s in Russia are thrown out before making it to trial. 

“This points to the fact that Marc is being held as a hostage,” his mother said.

In a January letter, McCormick, along with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) and several members of Congress pressured Rubio to use his new role to fight for Fogel’s release.

“The Russian Government’s outrageous treatment of this American teacher is a clear effort to use Marc as a political pawn to exert leverage on the United States,” the letter stated. “It must not stand.”

The letter specifically asked Rubio to request an embassy representative visit Fogel, arrange medical visits, provide medication, engage with the Fogel family, and provide regular briefings to Congress on his case. 

Fogel’s sister, Anne, told The Daily Wire that while she is also hopeful, she is seriously concerned about Marc’s health. According to Anne, Fogel has faced serious back injuries and recently fell on the ice at the prison. 

“He fell on the ice and we are unsure how significant the injury was,” Anne said. “He’s not allowed to have a cane at the prison.”

In August, The Daily Wire reported that Fogel’s mental health took a hit after he was excluded from a prisoner swap with Russia.

“I cannot believe this,” Marc Fogel said on a call to his family, a recording of which was obtained by The Daily Wire. “I just don’t even want to get out of bed. I am shocked and sickened and out of breath and energy.”

Marc Fogel, an American teacher imprisoned in Russia for the last three years, said he “feels like” his “soul is dead” after he was excluded from last week’s prisoner swap.

We obtained a recording of his call with his family, reacting to the news that he won’t be going home: pic.twitter.com/3JHlbJHHXN

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) August 6, 2024

Fogel told his family he felt “like a second-class citizen” when the Biden administration prioritized the release of high-profile prisoners like WNBA player Brittney Griner and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the latter of whom was included in the August swamp.

“I think that teachers have just been sh*t upon,” Fogel said. “It’s hard to have any faith,” Fogel said.

The Fogel family felt like they were abandoned by the Biden administration, which was scarce with communication and took years to recognize Fogel as wrongfully detained — a status that allows for the government to provide financial support for Fogel’s medical care and other needs.

“I am just trying to trust in the fact that President Trump talked with my mom and said he would get him out,” Anne said. “We are hanging on to that and we are very hopeful.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.