Rubio slams Havana for harboring fugitive in trooper’s decades-old murder
Decades after the tragic killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973, the search for justice continues. On that fateful day in May, Officer Foerster approached a car on the New Jersey Turnpike that had been pulled over for a broken taillight. Inside were three armed members of the radical Black Liberation Army, including Joanne Chesimard, who would later be convicted of the officer’s murder.
In the shootout that followed, Officer Foerster was tragically killed, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and sacrifice. Chesimard managed to escape from prison in 1979 and has been living freely in Cuba ever since. Calls for her extradition have been growing stronger, with law enforcement officials and politicians demanding that she face justice for her crime.
President Donald Trump has been vocal in his calls for Cuba to hand over Chesimard and the estimated 70 other fugitives from U.S. justice who are living in the country. The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Cuba and is considering even tougher measures to pressure the regime into cooperation.
State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan has made it his mission to bring Chesimard back to the U.S. to serve out her sentence. He has expressed his frustration at seeing a convicted killer living freely in another country, calling it a painful reminder of the loss of Officer Foerster.
Senator Rick Scott has introduced a bill demanding the return of fugitives like Chesimard and Willie Morales, the chief bombmaker for the Puerto Rican terrorist group responsible for the Fraunces Tavern bombing in 1975. The bill, named “The Frank Connor and Trooper Werner Foerster Justice Act,” aims to use economic leverage to compel Cuba to cooperate in extraditing these criminals.
The families of the victims of these heinous crimes have been tirelessly advocating for justice. Joe Connor, the son of Fraunces Tavern bombing victim Frank Connor, believes that President Trump can use economic power to negotiate the return of these fugitives to the U.S. He emphasizes the importance of holding these criminals accountable and bringing closure to the families who have suffered for so long.
As the search for justice continues, Governor Phil Murphy and other officials have reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the extradition of Joanne Chesimard and other fugitives living in Cuba. The memory of Officer Foerster and the other victims of these crimes remains a driving force in the fight for justice and closure.
In conclusion, the efforts to bring these fugitives to justice are ongoing, with law enforcement officials, politicians, and the families of the victims united in their quest for closure and accountability. The legacy of Officer Foerster and the other victims will not be forgotten, and their memory will continue to inspire the fight for justice.
