Christie blasts decision to take Cuba off terrorist list

TRENTON (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is blasting the Obama administration's decision to remove Cuba from a U.S. terrorism blacklist when the nation is still harboring one of his state's most-wanted criminals.

Christie says it's a mistake to go that far while the nations are still negotiating details to restore full diplomatic relations.

He says that to "join the rest of the civilized world," Cuba must hand over terrorists who are living there, starting with Joanne Chesimard.

Chesimard was convicted in the 1973 murder of a New Jersey state trooper and escaped prison in 1979. She has been in Cuba since 1984.

Christie, a Republican considering running for president next year, says that the Obama administration's announcement on Friday is "a failure to require justice."

Gov. Chris Christie's statement on the removal of Cuba from the Terrorist Watchlist:

“The United States should not be taking Cuba off the terrorist watchlist while we are still in the midst of negotiating details to restore full diplomatic relations. The condition for which Cuba is able to join the rest of the civilized world must rest on the country's commitment to hand over every terrorist currently being harbored, starting with Joanne Chesimard who executed New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and escaped custody.”

“While President Obama gave away normalization months ago, we must force formal requests for extradition of wanted criminals and human rights demands each step of the way before additional diplomatic rights are granted. President Obama’s failure to require justice in giving away the terrorist sponsorship designation is an unacceptable offense to the family of the fallen New Jersey State Trooper and every other wanted criminal that still lives freely in Cuba today.”

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