Did BP Have a Role in the Release of Pan Am Bomber to Libya?

U.S. lawmakers, including NY Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, are calling for an investigation into whether BP may have played a role in lobbying for the release of Pan Am bomber, Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, to Libya.

On Monday, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) wrote the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations stating, "Reports have surfaced indicating that a 2007 oil agreement may have influenced the U.K. and Scottish governments' positions concerning Mr. Megrahi's release in 2009."

BP spokesman Toby Odone said, "It is a matter of public record that in late 2007 BP discussed with the UK government our concern at the slow progress in concluding a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya." Odone added, "Like many others we were aware that a delay might have negative consequences for UK commercial interests, including ratification of BP's exploration agreement."

BP, however, claim the release of the terrorist, was "solely a matter for the Scottish Executive and not for the UK government." The Pan Am bomber was in Scottish custody prior to his release.

The stakes were high and it included a desire to bring Libya "back into the fold." The British Justice Secretary during that time was Jack Straw; he told The Daily Telegraph in September, "Libya was a rogue state. We wanted to bring it back into the fold. And yes, that included trade because trade is an essential part of it and subsequently there was the BP deal."

All parties have plausible deniability because on August 20, 2009 the Pan Am bomber was officially released on compassionate grounds. An evaluating doctor claimed Megrahi was dying of prostate cancer and had 3-months to live.

Days after Britain and Libya concluded the transfer agreement, Libya and BP signed a deal the oil company called "the single biggest exploration financial commitment an international energy company has ever made to Libya."

Witch hunt against BP, conspiracy against Megrahi that caused his original conviction? You decide, but in the meantime follow the money.

An AP report indicates BP may have helped secure Megrahi's release in order to finalize a $900-million offshore oil drilling deal with Libya.

In the CNN report it is noted that Senator Lautenberg claims BP stands to earn as much as $20- billion from its Libya deal and expected to start drilling off Libya's coast very soon.

The convicted terrorist is currently enjoying the life of luxury under the stewardship of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. In Miraculous developments, Dr. Karol Sikora who assessed Megrahi stated that he could survive for 10 years or longer.

Lautenberg noted in his letter, "The Libyan government had commissioned the doctor to make his assessment."

BP denies pushing for the terrorist's release; as previously mentioned all parties have plausible deniability; what it doesn't pass, however, is the smell test. BP may be slicker than the oil destroying the Gulf.

Megrahi was convicted for his role in the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers, 16 crew members and 11 others on the ground bringing the total fatalities to 270.

Among those killed were three Staten Island, New Yorkers:

• David J. Platt, 33, of New Dorp, married and father of three.

• Daniel Rosenthal, of St. George, a 20-year-old Vassar college student.

• Kathleen Jermyn, 20, of Annadale, a student of SUNY at Oneonta.

Sources: embedded in content