AT SENATE HEARING, SCHUMER SECURES
COMMITMENT FROM
A-G HOLDER TO CONTINUE AGGRESSIVE INVESTIGATIONS OF LOCKERBIE
BOMBING, DESPITE AL-MEGRAHI’S RECENT DEATH
Schumer asked A-G Holder to aggressively and proactively pursue leads Related to Al-Megrahi’s attacks in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 35 Syracuse University students
Holder agreed to continue investigation, saying, “We consider this an open matter”
US Senator Charles E Schumer today, during the Senate Oversight
Hearing of the Department of Justice, secured a commitment from Attorney
General Holder to continue aggressive investigative pursuits into the 1988
bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed many New Yorkers, including 180
Americans and a contingent of students from Syracuse University. Schumer urged
A-G Holder to commit to continuing its active investigative role, despite the
death of Libya’s convicted terrorist, Al-Megrahi, last month. A-G Holder
responded positively, stating that there is an open investigation into the
Lockerbie bombing in the US Attorney’s office in Washington DC
“It is a grave injustice that Al-Megrahi, an evil terrorist that
caused so much heartache and havoc died last month in freedom instead of behind
bars where he belongs. I urged Attorney General Eric Holder to make sure that
no further heartbreak comes to the victims’ families, and that the Department
of Justice continues to aggressively investigate the tragic events of the Pan
Am Flight 103 bombing. The Al-Megrahi debacle goes down as one of the most
egregious miscarriages of justice of the 20th century, and the
Department of Justice should not let up in its pursuit of at least some level
of justice for Syracuse families and friends of those victims. I am extremely
pleased that AG Holder committed to keeping the Lockerbie investigation open in
the US Attorney’s office in Washington DC.”
Schumer continued, “The British and Scottish governments have not
come clean about how this mass-murderer got his freedom, and the transaction
still has the unholy stench of oil for blood. I am also urging A-G Holder to
play an active role in pressing other nations, like Scotland, to proactively
pursue leads as they relate to the Lockerbie bombing. History
shows the truth almost always comes out; in this case we hope it is sooner
rather than later.”
In May 2012, the convicted Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset
al-Megrahi, reportedly died after having been released from prison almost 3
years ago on the so-called compassionate claim that the terrorist only had 3
months to live. Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of the bombing of Pam Am flight
103 enroute from London’s Heathrow Airport to New York’s Kennedy International
Airport, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground in Lockerbie,
Scotland. Many New Yorkers and New Jersey residents were on board, including
180 Americans and a contingent of students from Syracuse University.
Despite being sentenced to life in prison, Megrahi was released in
August 2009 on compassionate grounds that claimed the terrorist had only 3
months to live after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Serious questions
emerged over whether Megrahi’s release was connected to an oil deal between BP and
the Libyan government, under pressure from the British government.
Schumer’s
advocacy to return Megrahi to prison culminated with an extraordinary meeting
the Senator led with British Prime Minister David Cameron in Washington, DC in
July 2010.
Today, Schumer urged A-G Eric Holder to ensure that this convicted
terrorist’s death not lead way to decreased attention and focus in the
investigation of the Lockerbie bombing. He asked that the Department of Justice
aggressively renew its investigation into the tragedy. A-G Holder responded as
follows:
“This is a matter that certainly Megrahi was involved in. I
think there is still a basis to believe that a more investigation is warranted,
and we are pressing the Libyan government in that regard…
“We consider this an open matter. It’s open in the US Attorney’s
office in Washington DC.”
[RB: “None so blind as those that will not see.”]
US Senator Charles Schumer's call to “aggressively and proactively pursue leads related to Al-Megrahi’s attacks in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing” is part of the smokescreen to avoid holding a genuine investigation into Lockerbie.
ReplyDeleteThis is because the pretence of an on-going criminal investigation is the excuse given for not holding a Public Inquiry.
In Britain the on-going investigation is led by ‘one man and a dog’ and if A-G Holder’s comments are anything to go by, then the same applies in America.
No details given, he just says that ‘there is still a basis to believe more investigation is warranted and it’s an open matter in the US Attorney’s Office’!
The Al-Megrahi debacle goes down as one of the most egregious miscarriages of justice of the 20th century...
ReplyDeleteYes, it does, doesn't it? Just not for the reasons Schumer presumably had in mind.
Am I the only one who is grossly offended by Schumer's describing the proper process of my country's criminal justice system in those terms?