Transparency Alert: What Did the US Know About Released Terrorist Al-Megrahi?

Meredith Jessup | September 02, 2009 11:59 AM

Private letters have been made public in the UK that detail British and Scottish officials discussing the release of Lockerbie terrorist al-Megrahi. These letters have also suggested motives behind the controversial release much bigger than "compassion" for the dying man.

The Obama administration condemned al-Megrahi's release, but did the U.S. government play any role in all of this?

The Scottish government told FOX News Tuesday 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 the condition of anonymity, said the demand was made in a letter sent Tuesday from U.S. Embassy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron.

The U.K. and Scottish governments are making public their correspondence on al-Megrahi's release; Prime Minister Gordon Brown insists his government played no part in the decision to let the murderer return to Libya.

Media outlets in the UK, however, are reporting Brown had a larger role than he lets on:

In a major setback for Downing Street, which has insisted the release was entirely a matter for Edinburgh, it emerged that a Foreign Office minister intervened last February to make clear to Libya that Brown and Miliband hoped Abdelbaset al-Megrahi would not "pass away" in prison. ...

...[N]either the prime minister nor the foreign secretary would want Mr Megrahi to pass away in prison but the decision on transfer lies in the hands of Scottish ministers.

So, there are reports coming out of Scotland that contradict the U.S. government's "we knew nothing" claims. And since President Obama is committed to creating "the most open and accessible administration in American history," why doesn't the White House just release its records of correspondence between Washington and Edinburgh regarding the Lockerbie bomber?