Sunday, October 25, 2015

Chris Christie Wants to Bar New Jersey-Cuba Flights Until Cop Killer Returned

Joanne Chesimard and murdered NJ State Trooper 
Werner Foerster
Governor wants extradition of woman convicted of killing state trooper before service to island nation starts
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is asking the agency overseeing Newark Liberty International Airport to bar any airline requests to routinely fly from there to Cuba until a fugitive living on the island is returned to the U.S.
Mr. Christie, a Republican running for president, has opposed the Obama administration’s efforts to open diplomatic relations with Cuba until its government extradites Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey State trooper in 1973. She escaped from prison and fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum. State Department officials said in April they were discussing her return to the U.S. with Cuban officials, but haven’t announced further action on the issue.
Joanne Chesimard leaving court in New Brunswick,
 N.J., in 1977. AP
Travel from the U.S. to Cuba is limited to those with family ties to the island, along with humanitarian, educational and other categories of trips approved by U.S. authorities. Tourists aren’t allowed to travel from the U.S. to Cuba.
“I will not tolerate rewarding the Cuban government for continuing to harbor a fugitive,” Mr. Christie wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to John Degnan, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
“I will continue to exercise my authority to ensure that Chesimard is returned,” the governor wrote, calling her a “convicted cop-killer.” The letter was also sent to federal officials at the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
Read the rest of the story HERE.

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