III

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 254

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 15, 1998

Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas on May 2, 1973, Joanne Chesimard and 2 friends

were stopped in their vehicle by New Jersey State Troopers James Harper and Werner Foerster on the New Jersey Turnpike;

Whereas while being questioned, Ms. Chesimard and the driver opened fire with automatic pistols striking Trooper

Werner Foerster twice in the chest and Trooper James

Harper in the left shoulder;
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Whereas the suspects then turned Trooper Foerster’s own

weapon on him firing an additional two bullets into his

head execution style;

Whereas this heinous and premeditated act resulted in the

tragic death of New Jersey State Trooper Werner

Foerster;

Whereas Trooper Foerster left behind a wife, Rose Foerster,

and family;

Whereas in 1977, after a 6 week trial, a jury found Ms.

Chesimard guilty of first-degree murder for the slaying of

Trooper Foerster, a respected New Jersey State Trooper;

Whereas as a result of this conviction Ms. Chesimard was

sentenced to life in a New Jersey State prison;

Whereas in 1979, Ms. Chesimard broke free from a maximum security cell at the Reformatory for Women in Clinton, New Jersey, with the help of 4 men who took a

guard and prison van driver hostage;

Whereas after escaping prison, Ms. Chesimard fled to Cuba

for political asylum;

Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation lists 77 felony

fugitives known to have been granted safe haven by the

Cuban Government, including Robert Vesco, Frank

Terpil, and Victor Gerena, wanted for, or convicted of,

violent crimes, including murder, robbery, kidnapping, air

piracy, and terrorism;

Whereas these individuals have been indicted or convicted of

criminal offenses in the United States and have not paid

their debt to society;

Whereas people in New Jersey were shocked and outraged to

see television interviews showing Ms. Chesimard living
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freely in Cuba, portraying herself as the victim and denying any crimes against Trooper Foerster;

Whereas the Governor of New Jersey, Christine Whitman,

has requested Federal assistance from Attorney General

Janet Reno for the return of Ms. Chesimard; and

Whereas Members of Congress have petitioned Secretary of

State Madeleine Albright requesting that the Department

of State do everything in its power to have Joanne

Chesimard, and all other individuals who have fled the

United States to avoid prosecution or confinement for

criminal offenses and who are currently living freely in

Cuba, returned to the United States in order for them to

face prosecution or confinement in the United States:

Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) the Government of Cuba should return to

4 the United States convicted murderer Joanne

5 Chesimard in order for her to complete her life sen6 tence for the murder of New Jersey State Trooper

7 Werner Foerster;

8 (2) the Government of Cuba should return to

9 the United States all other individuals who have fled

10 the United States to avoid prosecution or confine11 ment for criminal offenses and who are currently liv12 ing freely in Cuba in order for them to face prosecu13 tion or confinement in the United States; and
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1 (3) the return from Cuba to the United States

2 of all individuals who have fled the United States to

3 avoid prosecution or confinement for criminal of4 fenses and who are currently living in Cuba should

5 be a top priority for the United States Government.

Passed the House of Representatives September 14,

1998.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.