Marc Fogel’s mother met with Trump prior to shooting at Butler rally
The mother of Butler native Marc Fogel, who is currently detained in a Russian prison, was slated to take the stage at former president Donald Trump’s rally Saturday at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
Though Malphine Fogel, 95, was pleased to have the opportunity to speak with the current presidential candidate on Saturday, she — like others attending the event — ducked and fled the event after shots were fired, striking Trump, killing one Buffalo Township man and critically injuring two others.
“Mrs. Fogel is OK physically, but because of the events that unfolded, she was not able to get on stage with Donald Trump and speak to our nation and the world about Marc,” a Facebook post to the group called “Freedom for Marc Fogel” said.
The post indicated that Malphine Fogel had prepared and rehearsed what she intended to say to Trump. She was able to deliver that message and then seated at ground level behind Donald Trump, when Donald Trump was shot.
“There was a group of us who worked very hard for Marc this week. Marc’s Mom Malphine worked the hardest,” the post said.
Malphine Fogel has previously said she has not heard about her son from either the U.S. State Department or President Joe Biden, who has previously called for the release of other American nationals detained in Russia, despite the family’s pleas to the president.
On July 28, Marc Fogel will turn 63 behind bars, his mother said. He has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly three years, but has yet to be designated as wrongfully detained.
“Not only were the hopes and dreams of many people shattered yesterday by one man who caused the loss of life, injured more people, he also took away the plan that Marc’s name was going to be heard nationally and around the world because of the coverage of the media and the politicians that are willingly saying Marc’s name,” the post said.
