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The Record News Article on Smith Legislation'Bill would require White House to prepare reports on fugitives, like Chesimard'By HERB JACKSON
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT |
A House committee takes up a bill today, sparked by outrage over relaxed restrictions on Cuba, that would require the White House to tell Congress what it is doing to extradite killers who have fled the United States.
AP FILE PHOTO
Joanne Chesimard
The bill is named in honor of Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster, victims of killers who escaped New Jersey prisons and are believed to be living in Portugal and Cuba. New Jersey officials have demanded that President Obama’s administration direct Cuba to return Joanne Chesimard, now known as Assata Shakur, who fled to the island after being broken out of the state women’s prison in Clinton. She was serving time for killing Foerster, a New Jersey state trooper, in 1973. The bill also says Portugal’s refusal to extradite George Wright has caused suffering for family and friends of Patterson. Wright was convicted of murder in 1962 and escaped Bayside State Prison for Portugal in 1970. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., the bill would require the administration to prepare annual reports to Congress about how many fugitives are living in other countries, what diplomatic efforts are being made to get their return, how long the efforts are taking and what the barriers are. The first report would be due within 270 days of enactment, meaning if the bill passes, it would apply to the next president and not Obama. The measure will be considered this afternoon by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where Smith is a subcommittee chairman. |