12/22/2014
Gov. Chris Christie has called on President Barack Obama to demand that Cuba return a woman convicted of killing a New Jersey State Police officer in 1973 before the United States moves forward with a plan to restore diplomatic relations with the communist nation.
The Republican governor wrote in a letter to Obama that he profoundly disagrees with the decision announced last week to re-establish diplomatic ties with Cuba, saying he does not share the view that taking that step "without a clear commitment from the Cuban government of the steps they will take to reverse decades of human rights violations will result in a better and more just Cuba for its people." Still, Christie wrote that he thought an opportunity existed for Cuba to show it was serious about change.
Christie joined other state lawmakers and authorities in calling on the president to demand Cuba immediately return Joanne Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army who was found guilty in 1977 of murdering Trooper Werner Foerster.
Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison but escaped after two years. Chesimard moved in the mid-1980s to the communist island, where she was granted asylum by Fidel Castro. Chesimard has been living in Cuba since then under the name Assata Shakur.
Christie outlined a series of measures taken by federal lawmakers and officials over the years to bring Chesimard back. The FBI last year named Chesimard as one of its most wanted terrorists.
"Cuba's provision of safe harbor to Chesimard by providing political asylum to a convicted cop killer, and her ability to elude justice, is an affront to every resident of our state, our country, and in particular, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police, who have tirelessly tried to bring this killer back to justice," Christie wrote.
The letter, which was dated Dec. 18, was publicly released by Christie's office today.
Christie called on Obama to demand Chesimard's return before further considering normalizing relations with Cuba. Further, Christie said, there could be no review of Cuba's designation of a state sponsor of terrorism until Chesimard was brought back to serve her prison time.
"If, as you assert, Cuba is serious about embracing democratic principles then this action would be an essential first step," Christie wrote.
Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement today that, "We will continue to press in our engagement with the Cuban government for the return of U.S. fugitives in Cuba to pursue justice for the victims of their crimes."
Following Obama's announcement last week, state and federal authorities, including State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes, said they hoped the move would help bring Chesimard back from Cuba.
"We view any changes in relations with Cuba as an opportunity to bring her back to the United States to finish her sentence for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973," Fuentes said in a statement.
Republican lawmakers, including state Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris), state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) and U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th), urged Obama to make the return of Chesimard a top priority.
source
Gov. Chris Christie has called on President Barack Obama to demand that Cuba return a woman convicted of killing a New Jersey State Police officer in 1973 before the United States moves forward with a plan to restore diplomatic relations with the communist nation.
The Republican governor wrote in a letter to Obama that he profoundly disagrees with the decision announced last week to re-establish diplomatic ties with Cuba, saying he does not share the view that taking that step "without a clear commitment from the Cuban government of the steps they will take to reverse decades of human rights violations will result in a better and more just Cuba for its people." Still, Christie wrote that he thought an opportunity existed for Cuba to show it was serious about change.
Christie joined other state lawmakers and authorities in calling on the president to demand Cuba immediately return Joanne Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army who was found guilty in 1977 of murdering Trooper Werner Foerster.
Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison but escaped after two years. Chesimard moved in the mid-1980s to the communist island, where she was granted asylum by Fidel Castro. Chesimard has been living in Cuba since then under the name Assata Shakur.
Christie outlined a series of measures taken by federal lawmakers and officials over the years to bring Chesimard back. The FBI last year named Chesimard as one of its most wanted terrorists.
"Cuba's provision of safe harbor to Chesimard by providing political asylum to a convicted cop killer, and her ability to elude justice, is an affront to every resident of our state, our country, and in particular, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police, who have tirelessly tried to bring this killer back to justice," Christie wrote.
The letter, which was dated Dec. 18, was publicly released by Christie's office today.
Christie called on Obama to demand Chesimard's return before further considering normalizing relations with Cuba. Further, Christie said, there could be no review of Cuba's designation of a state sponsor of terrorism until Chesimard was brought back to serve her prison time.
"If, as you assert, Cuba is serious about embracing democratic principles then this action would be an essential first step," Christie wrote.
Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, said in a statement today that, "We will continue to press in our engagement with the Cuban government for the return of U.S. fugitives in Cuba to pursue justice for the victims of their crimes."
Following Obama's announcement last week, state and federal authorities, including State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes, said they hoped the move would help bring Chesimard back from Cuba.
"We view any changes in relations with Cuba as an opportunity to bring her back to the United States to finish her sentence for the murder of a New Jersey State Trooper in 1973," Fuentes said in a statement.
Republican lawmakers, including state Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris), state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) and U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th), urged Obama to make the return of Chesimard a top priority.
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