As Introduced

132nd General Assembly

Regular Session S. C. R. No. 6

2017-2018

Senator O'Brien

Cosponsors: Senators Terhar, Beagle, Schiavoni, Yuko

A c o n c u r r e n t R E S O L U T I O N

To urge the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, and the Congress of the United States to compel Brazil to extradite Claudia Hoerig to stand trial for the aggravated murder of her husband, Major Karl Hoerig, and to request that the United States terminate foreign aid payments to Brazil if Claudia Hoerig is not extradited.

BE IT Resolved by the SENATE of the state of ohio (the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES concurring):

WHEREAS, On March 12, 2007, Major Karl Hoerig, a pilot for the United States Air Force Reserve, was found brutally murdered in his home in Newton Falls, Trumbull County, Ohio; and

WHEREAS, Overwhelming evidence gathered by state and local law enforcement officials established that the victim's wife, Claudia Hoerig, was the prime suspect in the crime; and

WHEREAS, Claudia Hoerig, an American citizen, fled to Brazil immediately following the crime; and

WHEREAS, On April 24, 2007, a Trumbull County grand jury indicted Claudia Hoerig on charges of aggravated murder with a firearm specification; and

WHEREAS, For almost ten years, Claudia Hoerig has evaded justice in the United States due to Brazil's refusal to extradite her for trial, despite diplomatic efforts on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Secretary of State; and

WHEREAS, Brazil claims that Claudia Hoerig is a Brazilian citizen, despite her voluntary renunciation of Brazilian citizenship, and is therefore protected from extradition under the rights afforded to Brazilian citizens under Title II, Chapter 1, Article 5, Section LI of the Brazilian Constitution; and

WHEREAS, Brazil's refusal to extradite its citizens who are suspected of committing crimes in other countries, when those countries provide ample evidence and legal justification for the extradition, amounts to Brazil providing safe harbor to criminals and terrorists; and

WHEREAS, Other countries who previously protected their citizens from extradition, including Colombia, have modified their extradition policies in response to diplomatic efforts by the United States; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 132nd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, and the Congress of the United States to compel Brazil to extradite Claudia Hoerig so that she may stand trial for the aggravated murder of Major Karl Hoerig; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 132nd General Assembly of the State of Ohio, further urge the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, and the Congress of the United States to terminate all foreign aid payments scheduled to be made to Brazil if the request for extradition is not granted; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the Ohio Congressional delegation, the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, and the news media of Ohio.