NJ leaders demand Cuba hand over cop killer

Leaders from both parties in New Jersey are calling for justice before President Barack Obama moves forward with plans to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba. Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted

News 12 Staff

Apr 17, 2015, 2:17 AM

Updated 3,457 days ago

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Leaders from both parties in New Jersey are calling for justice before President Barack Obama moves forward with plans to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper in 1973, has asylum in Cuba. Her asylum has driven a wedge between President Obama and New Jersey leaders. This week, Gov. Chris Christie called normalizing relations without turning over Chesimard a national disgrace.
However, reports from the Justice Department state Cuba may now be willing to reconsider as part of a new diplomatic understanding.
"Returning Joanne Chesimard to face justice is a must," says Congressman Leonard Lance. "If these reports are to be believed, Cuban officials must finally be getting the message that if they want to re-engage in world affairs, they cannot abuse human rights and harbor the world's most-wanted fugitives."
Chesimard is not the only fugitive living under asylum in Cuba. William Morales is a Puerto Rican nationalist who is wanted in connection with a bombing in Manhattan that killed a man from Fair Lawn in the 1970s.