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Dem Sen. Bob Casey blasts Biden for leaving Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel in Russia, says his mother fears she’ll never see him again

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Dem Sen. Bob Casey blasts Biden for leaving Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel in Russia, says his mother fears she’ll never see him again


One notable name was left behind in last week’s US-Russia prisoner exchange that freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan on Aug. 2.

And a week later, Pennsylvania’s senior senator has put President Joe Biden on notice.

In a statement last Thursday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said the swap was “good news” for Gershkovich and Whelan, but expressed disappointment with Pittsburgh teacher Marc Fogel being left to rot in Russia.

“This prisoner swap is good news for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and their families, but Marc Fogel is still sitting in a Russian prison,” Casey said, noting that Fogel’s health has “declined significantly” while imprisoned.

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Sen. Bob Casey blasted the prisoner swap over not including Pittsburgh teacher Marc Fogel. NurPhoto via Getty Images
Fogel with his mother Malphine, who fears she’ll never see her son again. Malphine Fogel

The statement comes after Fogel’s 95-year-old mother Malphine Fogel slammed both Casey and Biden in an interview with The Post last week. She specifically said Casey “needs to be more forceful to get him designated unlawfully detained” — a crucial State Department label for overseas prisoners.

Now 65, Fogel was detained in August 2021 for allegedly trying to enter Russia with 0.6 ounces of medical marijuana and was sentenced to 14 years in prison the following year. 

Casey’s statement said that Malphine fears she will never see her son again.

“As we celebrate the good news of today, we cannot forget about Marc and the Fogel family,” Casey said.

Casey’s opponent, GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick, met with Malphine Fogel on Wednesday — and stressed the importance of getting her son to be declared “wrongfully detained.”

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The Biden administration was able to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whalen and Alsu Kurmasheva in the prisoner exchange on Aug. 2. AP

“It’s so important that he be designated as wrongfully detained,” McCormick said. “It’s so important because he makes sure he gets the healthcare he needs.”

Former President Donald Trump also meet with Malphine — the day he was shot by a would-be assassin in Butler, Pennsylvania — and the GOP nominee promised to bring her son home if he’s elected.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan used the phrase when referring to Marc Fogel at last Thursday’s press briefing — the first time a Biden administration official has publicly done so.

Casey has repeatedly pushed for a deal to negotiate Fogel’s release — including his introduction of a bipartisan resolution calling for the teacher to come home, which passed the Senate unanimously earlier this year.

The senator’s comments represent a rare public break with the Biden administration.

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Casey was one of few swing-state Democrats to remain supportive of Biden following the prez’s disastrous debate performance in late June.

FiveThirtyEight records show he voted with Biden’s stated position 98.5% of the time during the 117th Congress in 2021-22.



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Pennsylvania

Funeral arrangements set for Pa. state trooper shot and killed in Chester County

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Funeral arrangements set for Pa. state trooper shot and killed in Chester County


The funeral arrangements for Corporal Timothy O’Connor, who was shot and killed in Chester County on Sunday, have been announced.

The viewing for O’Connor will be Tuesday, March 17, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church located at 338 Manor Avenue in Downingtown, Pa., according to the Parkesburg Police Department.

The funeral will be held at the same location on Wednesday, March 18, at 11 a.m., police said.

O’Connor was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Honey Brook on Sunday night. The suspect, Jesse Nathan Elks, took his own life after shooting O’Connor.

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O’Connor was a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police who leaves behind a wife, Casey, and a 6-year-old daughter, according to police.

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Pennsylvania State Police



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Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay

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Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay


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Delaware, Pennsylvania, and federal agencies have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay. 

The barge, which is carrying salvage metal, is being moved to shallow water so it can be secured, allowing on-scene responders to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to a March 10 statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

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No injuries have been reported as of 1:15 p.m.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is on scene to perform air monitoring, the statement said.

Responding agencies include the Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will, Leipsic Volunteer, Bowers and South Bowers fire companies. Also there are Delaware State Police, DNREC, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.

The Philadelphia Fire Department was enroute.

This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.

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Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.



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Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?

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Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?






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