The Hill News

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concluded Monday that BP had no part in the release of so-called Lockerbie bomber Abdelbasset al-Megrahi from Scottish prison. 

Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) had co-signed a letter July 13 urging Clinton to examine the link between BP and the release decision, citing a $900 million oil deal between the company and the Libyan government in which al-Megrahi's return to Libya may have been a condition.

Schumer is also seeking a Justice Department probe of the affair under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that prevents bribery of foreign officials.

"If BP, or its officials, promised the Libyan Government that it would secure al-Megrahi’s release from detention in exchange for oil exploration rightsâ€"or even that it would provide lobbying services for such a release on the Libyan Government’s behalfâ€"BP may have been unlawfully authorizing performance of valuable services to the Libyan Government in exchange for profitable oil exploration rights in express violation of the FCPA," Schumer wrote in a letter Monday to Attorney General Eric Holder.

“Similarly, if BP promised anything of value to United Kingdom government officials to secure al-Megrahi’s release, this would also violate the FCPA,” the letter adds.

Clinton, while responding sympathetically to the senators' complaints, noted in her letter Monday that al-Megrahi's release ultimately fell to local Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill, and that his reasoning -- permitting al-Megrahi to return to Libya on "compassionate grounds" -- was permitted by Scottish law.

She then repudiated the decision.

"That al-Megrahi is living out his remaining days outside of Scottish custody is an affront to the victims’ families, the memories of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing, and to all of those who worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served," Clinton wrote.  

Al-Megrahi, who was convicted in 2001 for his hand in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, returned to Libya in August 2009. He had petitioned Scottish authorities to release him because of failing health.

Clinton added that she has asked British Foreign Secretary William Hague to review the facts of the case.

"Whatever the rationale, we do not believe the decision to release al-Megrahi and permit his return to Libya was in the interest of justice, and we continue to believe his freedom is not in the interest of justice," she wrote.