TO: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, John Kerry (Chairman) and Richard Lugar (Ranking member)
      Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Joseph Lieberman (Chairman) and Susan Collins (Ranking member)
      House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Howard Berman (Chairman) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Ranking member)
      House Committee on Homeland Security, Bennie Thompson (Chairman) and Peter King (Ranking member)

RE: Lockerbie Terrorist Release Transparency

Like millions of our fellow citizens, we were stunned and appalled by the decision of the governments of Scotland and the United Kingdom to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Libyan terrorist convicted of 270 counts of murder for his part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on 21 December 1988.

180 Americans were killed in that tragedy and their families and friends miss and mourn them every day.  U.K. Justice Minister Jack Straw has admitted that commercial considerations “played a very large role” in the decision to release al-Megrahi.

We write to express our deep concern about the United States government’s contacts with the Scottish and U.K. governments prior to the release of al-Megrahi.  What was the U.S. administration told about the planned release? What efforts, if any, did President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, and other U.S. officials make to prevent this outrageous injustice?


President Obama has pledged: “My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government.  We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.”

Despite this promise, the Obama administration has declined to provide to the American people the information we deserve about our government’s contacts with the Scottish and U.K. governments in the al-Megrahi case. In fact:
 
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill says he talked to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, declassified Scottish government records show: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/09/02/lockerbie.bomber.qa/



The Scottish government told FOX News Tuesday (9/1/09) that the U.S. government refuses to allow them to release details of any communication between Scotland and the U.S. over al-Megrahi’s release. A source with the Scottish government, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the demand was made in a letter sent Tuesday from U.S. Embassy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron. http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2009/09/02/release-the-scottish-lockerbie-letters/



U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder made a grave and measured statement after al-Megrahi's release. "The interests of justice have not been served by this decision," he said. It seems probable that he expressed that view more trenchantly in a phone call to Scottish ministers; Washington has refused to release the transcripts of the call for publication.  http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1919989,00.html?iid=tsmodule

The Scottish Government is willing to release the transcript of these communications, yet “Washington has refused to release the transcripts”. Who instructed the Embassy to demand that details of communications not be released? Where is the transparency?

Like our fellow citizens, we want answers. We request that your Committee, in its oversight role, take the steps necessary to obtain the facts. Justice demands transparency. Compassion for the suffering families and friends of victims demands transparency.

If President Obama and other administration officials made a strenuous effort to prevent the release of a mass murderer of Americans, transparency will reward them.  We will be first in line in praising them and thanking them for their efforts.  If the President and other officials did not make a strenuous effort, we the people have a right to know. 

We ask that you seek release of all relevant communication and information – both within the U.S. government and between our government and the governments of Scotland and the U.K.. Should your request for publication of the relevant communications be denied, we urgently request that you immediately begin hearings. The trust of the American people is at stake:

“Government should be transparent.  Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing.  Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset.” -- President Barack Obama

Signed by:

The American Principles Project, Frank Cannon, President

American Conservative Union, David Keene, Chairman

American Values, Gary Bauer, President

Americans for Sovereignty, Jeff Gayner, Chairman

Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, President

Bill Kristol

Catholic Families for America, Kevin Roberts, Founder

Concerned Women for America, Wendy Wright, President

Council for America, Ron Pearson, President

Let Freedom Ring, Colin Hanna, President

Family Research Council Action, Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President

Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Clifford May, President

Freedom Research Foundation, Jack Wheeler, Founder      

Human Events, Thomas Winter, Editor

National Tax Limitation Committee, Lewis Uhler, President  

60 Plus Association, James Martin, President

Western Center for Journalism, Floyd Brown, President