Washington – FBI Director Robert Mueller thundered down on Scotland’s justice minister for releasing the Lockerbie bomber, an act that “gives comfort to terrorists” all over the world.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Mueller sent a scathing letter to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who cited compassionate grounds in his decision to let Abdel Baset al-Megrahi return to Libya because he has prostate cancer and was given only months to live by British doctors.
The angry tone of the letter is out of character with the normally reserved Mueller, indicating his outrage is personal as well as professional. He also sent copies to the families of the Lockerbie victims.
“I have made it a practice not to comment on the actions of other prosecutors,” Mueller wrote. “Your decision to release Megrahi causes me to abandon that practice in this case. I do so because I am familiar with the facts, and the law. … And I do so because I am outraged at your decision, blithely defended on the grounds of ‘compassion.'”
Before he became FBI director, Mueller spent years as a Justice Department lawyer leading the investigation into the 1988 airplane bombing that killed 270 people, most of them Americans.
Mueller said Thursday’s release was “as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice. Indeed your action makes a mockery of the rule of law.”
His letter was dated Friday, and was made public Saturday.
Releasing the convicted bomber “gives comfort to terrorists around the world who now believe that regardless of the quality of the investigation … the terrorist will be freed by one man’s exercise of ‘compassion.'”
A statement from Scotland’s government on Saturday noted Mueller has “strong views” because of his involvement in the case. “But he should also be aware that while many families have opposed Mr. MacAskill’s decision, many others have supported it,” the statement said.
Bert Ammerman of Riverside, N.J., who lost his brother Tom Ammerman in the bombing, praised Mueller for the “frankness and honesty” in his condemnation of the release.
Mueller recounted his own emotional experiences leading the investigation — seeing a teenage victim’s single sneaker, a Syracuse University sweatshirt, toys in the suitcase of a businessman heading home to see his wife and children for Christmas.
“Your action,” he wrote MacAskill, “makes a mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own on December 21, 1988. You could not have spent much time with the families, certainly not as much time as others involved in the investigation and prosecution.”
He ended the Lockerbie letter with a frustrated question: “Where, I ask, is the justice?”
President Barack Obama on Friday called the elaborate homecoming in Libya for the freed bomber “highly objectionable.”
We will soon see that the release of this animal is related to Britain’s new oil deal with Libya.
Its all about money. Always has been, always will be.
Why didn’t he send the letter before the release?
Right on Mr. Mueller. Don’t let the misplaced mercy of evil people corrupt the world by letting vile terrorists go.
It’s about time for the FBI after pandering to the likes of Cair and Isna.
Robert,
Spend some more time with the Commander in Chief that didn’t go further then telling a few reporters that it was “highly objectionable”.
Our President is weak and spineless.
Shame.
This is the kind of stuff you can expect when you have a weakling in the white house.
I don’t find it that scathing. It should’ve ended with a wish that some other judge should have the same compession on the one who will kill this guy and his family
If EY can release hundreds of terrorists to recover the body of one IDF captive because of humanitarian concerns and compassion for the family that wants to bury their son or daughter, why are you so upset that Scotland also cites compassion for releasing a terrorist.
wondering if he would have had cancer at the time he blew up the planes if they wouldn’t arrest him
Thank G-d for Mr. Mueller since it seems like O is either spineless or indifferent. Mr Obamas statement is far from reassuring.
I am sure that the victims of flight 103 family’s are thinking : thank G-d for FBI director Mueller who shows some moral outrage as would his old boss President Bush. But Obama no. He still doesn’t get it.
Mr. Obama with all due respect this is the real world and there are EVIL people out there. Be a man and say it. Just like mueller did. Stop this equivocating, I am getting sick of this. Highly objectionable is not strong enough. It is too parev. And you know it.
Mr. Obama please don’t be weak. Take some lessons from Mueller.
Strange. In countries that do not have capital punishment (like the U.K.) I thought that a “life sentence” meant that you stayed in prison until you died. I guess it now depends on what you’re dying of. LIver disease? Heart disease? Alzheimers? Heck, let ’em all out. If this Scottish judge believes that dying prisoners should be released, then what’s the point of a life sentence? As Mr. Mueller correctly observed, Scotland’s “justice” minister has made a mockery of justice.