New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized President Obama for moving toward normal relations with Cuba and urged the White House to demand the return of a convicted cop-killer before diplomatic relations proceed.
Joanne Chesimard was found guilty of killing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973 before escaping from prison and fleeing to Cuba. Any relationship without her return to the United States would be a mistake, Christie said.
Chesimard, 67, has been provided safe haven by the Cuban government.
“Cuba’s provision of safe harbor to Chesimard by providing political asylum to a convicted cop killer . . . is an affront to every resident of our state, our country, and in particular, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police,” Christie said in a letter to Obama that was released Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the White House’s National Security Council says it will continue to press the Cuban government to return US fugitives.