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

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…

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

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

You both have said that it was a very strong, unequivocal position of the United States that al-Megrahi should not be released, certainly not be allowed to return to Libya.

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

Well, it certainly would have been in the pattern, at least from the Libyan Government's actions up to and including that date, that they were not reticent to go ahead and use their economic power through their resource to oil to try to…

Because on December 21, 1988, 270 innocent people were sent to their deaths at the hands of a Libyan terrorist, a mass murderer named Abdelbasset al-Megrahi.

I have urged the Prime Minister to do in a meeting with him when he was in the United States.

Do we send a message that a convicted terrorist, a mass murderer can ultimately, after a period of time, be free and live in the lap of luxury?

However, I still believe we do need a full investigation, including testimony of the al-Megrahi release, so that we can learn from this mistake and assess what steps can be taken so that justice is served and terrorists are held…

Thank you, Senator Lautenberg and Senator Schumer, for your leadership on this matter.