U.S. Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff stated some issues have been nonetheless up within the air when he hopped on his jet to Russia to debate the potential launch of American college trainer Marc Fogel.
Witkoff, a longtime pal of President Donald Trump, stated Wednesday on “Hannity” that somebody who’s an middleman between america and Russian governments reached out with a possibility to deliver Fogel again.
A plan was offered to the president and members of his Cupboard, together with nationwide safety advisor Mike Waltz and CIA director John Ratcliffe, who deemed the data “credible” and “actionable.”
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Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania historical past trainer who was working on the Anglo-American College in Moscow, returned to U.S. soil Tuesday evening, after Russia, the place he had been detained since 2021, launched him following talks with Trump administration officers. (The White Home through X)
Fox Information host Sean Hannity requested Witkoff if he knew the last word final result when he obtained on the jet.
“You know, we thought we had a very, very good chance of Marc coming back. We weren’t positive. There were still some things that I’m not at liberty to talk about tonight,” the actual property investor stated.
“We thought it was a strong enough opportunity that we had to go and, hopefully, we’d have a good result. And, of course, we did. So I’m grateful for that and grateful for the Fogel family.”
Fogel was launched Tuesday after he spent roughly three years in a Russian jail on drug expenses. He was not included within the August 2024 mass prisoner swap between america and Russia that noticed Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan freed.
This picture launched by the White Home exhibits Evan Gershkovich, left, Alsu Kurmasheva, proper, and Paul Whelan, second from proper, and others aboard a aircraft, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, following their launch from Russian captivity. (White Home through AP)
The White Home introduced Russian nationwide Alexander Vinnik, who pleaded responsible final yr to conspiracy to commit cash laundering, can be launched as a part of the Fogel change.
Witkoff declined to touch upon whether or not he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin throughout his journey.
Fogel met with Trump late Tuesday evening on the White Home carrying an American flag draped throughout his shoulders.
“I feel like the luckiest man on Earth right now,” he stated, praising the president and his workforce as “heroes” for securing his launch and bringing him residence.
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U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Marc Fogel again to america after being launched from Russian custody, on the White Home on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Fogel, a historical past trainer from Pennsylvania was serving a 14-year jail sentence after being arrested at an airport in Moscow in August 2021 for possessing hashish, which he reportedly used to deal with continual again ache. He was launched earlier right now as a part of an change negotiated by the Trump administration. (Picture by Win McNamee/Getty Photographs)
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“I think he [Fogel] was pinching himself even after three-and-a-half years in prison. I think he considered himself to be fortunate. He’s an example of a very, very courageous person and I’m glad I had the privilege to meet him, to know him,” Witkoff stated. “I’ll stay in touch with him and play a small part in getting him his freedom.”
