U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today denounced Scotland Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill’s decision to free Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in the terrorist attack against Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988.

Al-Megrahi returned today to his homeland of Libya after he was ruled to be eligible for compassionate release because he is dying of cancer. The attack resulted in the deaths of 270 people, including residents of northern New Jersey.

“I struggle to see the where the justice is in a decision that shows mercy on a person who was convicted of acting so heartlessly against so many,” said Pascrell, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. “Mr. Al-Megrahi was found guilty after being afforded the due process of a courtroom. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who are still mourning the loss of their loved ones and have had to suffer a second attack of a judicial official’s misdirected leniency.” 

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