Wednesday, the U. S.Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on the circumstances surrounding the release of convicted Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbasset al-Megrahi from a Scottish prison more than one year ago. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) will chair the hearing, which will feature testimony from U.S. government officials with knowledge of the diplomatic and legal issues surrounding al-Megrahi’s release. There will also be experts in medical and North African politics who can provide insight into medical evidence and the Libyan government. Menendez is also spearheading an investigation into al-Megrahi’s release, which will be completed in the coming weeks.
Al-Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds by Scottish authorities in August 2009 because he was said to have less than three months to live due to prostate cancer. It is now 13 months later and Mr. al-Megrahi is still alive. BP representatives were invited to testify to help clarify the company’s involvement in al-Megrahi’s release, but so far have declined several invitations and failed to offer what Menendez calls, “a useful witness.”
The witness includes, but is not limited to; the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European Affairs with the U.S. State Department; the Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division with the U.S. Department of Justice; the Sr. Vice President for Translation Research & Chair, Department of Urology at the Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY; the Plitz Professor of Cancer Research, Departments of Medicine and Urology at Tulane Medical School; and the Managing Director of K2 Global Consulting.
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