Joanne Chesimard, convicted of murdering New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973, was given refuge in Cuba after escaping from prison. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Toms River) has criticized the failure to extradite Chesimard, calling it a denial of justice for Foerster’s family and the law enforcement community.
“Justice was delayed for half a century—now forever denied—by the failure to secure Chesimard’s extradition to serve her life sentence in New Jersey for the murder of Trooper Werner Foerster,” Smith wrote.
Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army, was found guilty in 1977 of first-degree murder and other crimes. She escaped prison with assistance and later surfaced in Cuba, where she remained on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.
Smith has been critical of the Obama Administration’s decision to normalize relations with Cuba without securing Chesimard’s extradition or demanding human rights reforms. “Chesimard is an inexcusable example of allowing a cop killer to remain free from justice and was made worse by the Obama Administration’s foolish and callous decision to normalize relations with the tyrannical and murderous communist regime in Havana without conditions,” Smith stated.
He added: “Obama’s weak and callous disregard for justice represents one of the greatest failings in the history of US foreign policy.”
Christopher Burgos, president of the State Troopers’ Fraternal Association of New Jersey, submitted a statement for Smith’s hearing record: “We are shocked and very disappointed that returning a convicted killer of a state trooper was not already demanded and accomplished in the context of the steps announced by the White House regarding this despotic dictatorship.”
Other fugitives remain at large, including George Wright, who was convicted for murdering Walter Patterson in Wall, New Jersey in 1962.
Smith has chaired several hearings on extradition issues involving both allied and adversarial nations. In 2023, he introduced legislation titled the Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act to urge prioritization by the U.S. State Department on repatriating criminals as part of diplomatic relations.
“The US government must use all tools available to demand the repatriation of criminals, especially those convicted of murder. Joanne Chesimard’s death should not put an end to these efforts but rather incentivize a renewed push to return other fugitives from justice so families may receive the modicum of justice denied to the family of Trooper Warner Foerster and to the law enforcement community,” Smith said.
“The delay of justice must never result in the denial of justice.”
Chris Smith has served as U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 4th District since 1981, succeeding Frank Thompson. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and currently lives in Manchester Township. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
The original article appeared online at https://savejersey.com/2025/09/op-ed-justice-delayed-is-justice-denied/
