Another American Hostage Coming Home After Release of Marc Fogel Says Special Envoy for Hostages
Another American hostage is expected to be released Wednesday, just hours after Russia released U.S. citizen Marc Fogel, a teacher who had been detained in the country since 2021.
Special Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler and Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed during a CNN interview that, "We have another American coming in."
Boehler later told Fox News, "It's another in a stream of hostages. It'll be unilateral as well. And I can't release [the person's name] until the person's released, obviously, it could endanger the hostage release, and that I can't do."
"But I can say that we expect another one tomorrow. And hopefully a lot more through that, because the president made it a priority to get all Americans home," he added.
Fogel, an American history teacher, was reunited with his family Tuesday night after talks between the Trump administration and Russia.
Fogel's relatives said they were "beyond grateful, relieved, and overwhelmed" that he was coming home.
"This has been the darkest and most painful period of our lives, but today, we begin to heal," they said. "For the first time in years, our family can look forward to the future with hope."
After arriving on American soil late Tuesday, Fogel said, "I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now."
He thanked the president adding, "I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. And President Trump is a hero."
"These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes," Fogel continued. "The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor to get me home are the heroes."
Fogel was serving a 14-year prison sentence for carrying medical marijuana in Russia. The U.S. State Department officially designated Fogel as wrongfully detained in October.
The 63-year-old Pennsylvanian also called Russian President Vladimir Putin "very generous and statesmanlike in granting me a pardon."
The White House called Fogel's release a diplomatic thaw that could advance negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Asked about the terms of the deal, Trump said: "Very fair, very, very fair, very reasonable. Not like deals you've seen over the years. They were very fair." However, he stopped short of saying what the United States exchanged for Fogel's release.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said the president and his advisors negotiated "an exchange that serves as a good show of faith from the Russians."
"Since President Trump's swearing-in, he has successfully secured the release of Americans detained around the world, and President Trump will continue until all Americans being held are returned to the United States," he said.
