Bob Menendez

And finally, based upon your review of the medical records that the Scottish Government released, did his physical condition match that of someone with an accurate 3-months prognosis?

Mr. al-Megrahi received chemotherapy in Scotland just prior to his release.

And that would placate hard-liners who might challenge Qaddafi.

Now, it seems, based upon the medical report and from the discussions that my staff has had with the Scottish Government--it appears that the 3-month prognosis came down to a doctor, Peter Kay, who is a general practitioner.

And why do you believe that none of the specialists who were consulted would offer a 3-month prognosis, based on the information you have?

Well, thank you all for your testimony.

So, if someone were to be considered for, or in receipt of, chemotherapy treatment, it wouldn't be administered in the last 3 months of their lives.

So, in essence, it was our desire to seek a prosecution that had us make the determination, based on what the British were telling us, that this was the best way to move forward.

In fact, Mr. Swartz, isn't it the understanding of the United States that, if found guilty, the individuals would serve the entirety of their sentences inside of Scotland?

We have also called upon the Scottish Government to be as transparent as possible in illuminating their decision.

And finally, does the State Department believe that the desire for an independent inquiry conducted by the British Government, as Prime Minister Cameron suggested when he was the opposition leader, is something that would be desirable?

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure it out.

It is clear that while that statement was made, the Scottish officials who have stated that they opposed a broad Prisoner Transfer Agreement that would apply to al-Megrahi, at the same time made a decision to release him on compassionate…

Our resolute conviction remains that Megrahi should not be a free man and should be serving out the entirety of his sentence in a Scottish prison.

We believe that the fundamental truth remains that the decision to release Megrahi back to Libya was a grievous mistake.

If we are ever going to win the fight against terrorism, the rule of law must hold strong.

Thank you both very much for your testimony--we appreciate it--and your time.

Well, seems to me that unless somebody reads the act in a different way--it was a foreign policy decision, after the compassionate release, to allow al-Megrahi to physically leave Scotland.

They knew that the Libyans wanted al-Megrahi. They knew about this whole debate upon how the Prisoner Transfer Agreement would be constructed.

So, do you believe that al-Megrahi's release on compassionate grounds breached the verbal commitments by the United Kingdom and the political understanding set forth in the 1998 Lockerbie justice agreement, that the suspects, if convicted…

Thank you, Senator Gillibrand, for your statement, as well as for your leadership and your consistent effort in this regard.

I called on the U.K. Government to conduct an independent investigation into this matter.

Thank you both very much for your testimony.

It is the view of this administration that the decision by Scottish authorities to release Megrahi and permit his return to Libya was profoundly wrong.

We emphasized that we did not endorse any release of Megrahi, in light of the seriousness of his crimes.