Howarth seeks to stop state investments in businesses with financial ties to Cuba until Chesimard is returned

Medford, N.J. – Assemblyman Joseph Howarth announced plans Wednesday to introduce legislation fully divesting state pension funds from companies that do business in Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is returned.

“Rather than pay her debt to society, she escaped to Cuba where she continues to thumb her nose at our laws,” said Howarth (R-Burlington). “She needs to be held accountable and Cuba needs to be held accountable for harboring her.”

Chesimard has lived in Cuba since escaping prison in 1984 while serving a life sentence for the killing of state police Trooper Werner Foerster.

Under Howarth’s proposed law, the state would have 90 days from the effective date to identify investments that are out of compliance and three years to fully divest from those companies.

“We must stand firm with President Trump and take a hard line against Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is returned to finish her sentence,” said Howarth.  “The family of our fallen trooper, the state police and the entire state deserve no less. It is disheartening to hear that Sen. Cory Booker stood silent two days ago as she was praised at the We the People Summit. The Democrats might want you to forget the death of Trooper Forrester, but the people of New Jersey will never forget. We want to see her brought to justice.”

The New Jersey State Investment Council oversees the $78.6 billion public worker pension fund.

Over the last year, the state has axed investments in a company manufacturing semi-automatic rifles and a private prison contractor that runs family detention centers. Current state law prohibits investing pension and annuity funds in companies with financial ties to Iran or Sudan, and entities that boycott Israel.