Marc Fogel ... ignored by Biden, finally released from Russia

[KhunLA]

Thank you President Trump ... 👍

 

"Russia frees jailed US national – White House

Marc Fogel, a former US embassy employee, had been sentenced to 14 years behind bars in Russia on drug trafficking charges.

 

Russia has released US national Marc Fogel following negotiations with President Donald Trump’s advisors, the White House announced on Tuesday." - RTNews

 

Biden administration concentrated on criminal who blatantly smuggled multiple vials and violated the law, while Mr Fogel, had a script for medical marihuana and a small amount, was left behind.

 

"In May 2022, the US State Department designated basketball player Brittney Griner as being wrongfully detained, but did not do so for Fogel. Fogel's case had not generated the public attention that Griner’s case had garnered.[7] Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey voiced his dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's handling of the case" - wiki

[bamnutsak]

I don't know how you can say that someone who smuggles ~ 16 grams ( ~ half an ounce) and is caught, is then wrongfully detained. I understand Ms. Greiner's circumstances involved empty carts, and was meant to be 'political', hence more of a case for being declared 'wrongfully detained'. After all she played in Russia for UMMC Ekatarinburg for eight years without incident.

 

That said, kudos to Trump as he promised Fogel's wife at the Butler PA rally that he would get her husband released, and she was due to speak after the assassination attempt.

 

It would be nice to understand what Trump may have exchanged for the release.

 

 

[KhunLA]

15 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

I don't know how you can say that someone who smuggles ~ 16 grams ( ~ half an ounce) and is caught, is then wrongfully detained. I understand Ms. Greiner's circumstances involved empty carts, and was meant to be 'political', hence more of a case for being declared 'wrongfully detained'. After all she played in Russia for UMMC Ekatarinburg for eight years without incident.

 

That said, kudos to Trump as he promised Fogel's wife at the Butler PA rally that he would get her husband released, and she was due to speak after the assassination attempt.

 

It would be nice to understand what Trump may have exchanged for the release.

Once again, I'm surprised at the lack of reading comprehension, or, reading into it, that was never stated by myself.

 

Please show me where I stated he was 'wrongly detained', as I must have missed it 

[Yagoda]

Another victory. Too bad he was white when the racists were in power

[Jim Blue]

1 hour ago, bamnutsak said:

 

 

It would be nice to understand what Trump may have exchanged for the release.

 

 

Ukraine ?

[KhunLA]

Let's hope for success ... news-blip just now that I saw ... 👍

If anyone can get it done, it will be President Trump

 

[SunnyinBangrak]

9 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Thank you President Trump ... 👍

 

"Russia frees jailed US national – White House

Marc Fogel, a former US embassy employee, had been sentenced to 14 years behind bars in Russia on drug trafficking charges.

 

Russia has released US national Marc Fogel following negotiations with President Donald Trump’s advisors, the White House announced on Tuesday." - RTNews

 

Biden administration concentrated on criminal who blatantly smuggled multiple vials and violated the law, while Mr Fogel, had a script for medical marihuana and a small amount, was left behind.

 

"In May 2022, the US State Department designated basketball player Brittney Griner as being wrongfully detained, but did not do so for Fogel. Fogel's case had not generated the public attention that Griner’s case had garnered.[7] Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey voiced his dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's handling of the case" - wiki

He wasn't "diverse" enough, unlike that transgender basketball player that was swapped for the God of War weapons dealer. So glad the days where decisions made on woke merit are over. 

[NativeBob]

Interesting choice of employees in US State Dept

#ROFL

[bamnutsak]

On 2/12/2025 at 10:18 AM, bamnutsak said:

It would be nice to understand what Trump may have exchanged for the release.

 

Who, rather than what...

 

 

Who is Alexander Vinnik, the Russian prisoner being traded for American Marc Fogel?

 

Feb 12 (Reuters) - The United States will release Russian Alexander Vinnik, a suspected cybercrime kingpin, as part of an exchange with Russia that freed Marc Fogel, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

Vinnik operated BTC-e, once one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. He was arrested in 2017 in a small beachside village in northern Greece and detained at Washington's request on suspicion of laundering $4 billion through the exchange.

 

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/who-is-alexander-vinnik-russian-prisoner-being-traded-american-marc-fogel-2025-02-12/

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

@bamnutsak

Who cares, give them all back, save the tax payers paying for their upkeep.  Get all Yanks back on USA soil.  Unless true criminals, then let them rot, unless under orders for a previous administration, then 'maybe' give them a pass.   But ban them from any gov't agency in the future for being an idiot.