Difference between revisions of "Document:CIA wanted to kill Lockerbie bomber before trial"
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{{Document | {{Document | ||
| − | | | + | |publication_date=2013/07/05 |
| − | | | + | |type=article |
| − | |description=A report of William | + | |description=A report of [[William Chasey]]'s allegation (after being diagnosed with incurable cancer) that [[CIA]] agents tried to convince him to plant homing devices on [[Megrahi]] and [[Fhimah]] as part of the plot to assassinate them before the [[Pan Am Flight 103/The Trial|Lockerbie trial]]. |
|leaked=No | |leaked=No | ||
| − | | | + | |draft=No |
| − | | | + | |collection=No |
| − | | | + | |authors=Gareth Rose, Bob Smyth |
| − | |subjects=Abdelbaset | + | |subjects=Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, CIA, William Chasey, Jim Swire, Buck Revell |
|source_name=The Scotsman | |source_name=The Scotsman | ||
| − | | | + | |source_URL=https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/cia-wanted-kill-lockerbie-bomber-trial-1569005 |
|image=AbdelBasset.jpg | |image=AbdelBasset.jpg | ||
| + | |image_caption=[[Megrahi]] in 1992 under arrest in [[Libya]] | ||
|comment=More important evidence emerges... | |comment=More important evidence emerges... | ||
| − | | | + | |declassified=No |
}} | }} | ||
| − | The [[CIA]] wanted to assassinate [[Lockerbie]] bomber [[Abdelbaset | + | The [[CIA]] wanted to assassinate [[Lockerbie]] bomber [[Abdelbaset al-Megrahi]] and his co-accused, [[Lamin Khalifah Fhimah]], before their trial, a former Washington lobbyist has claimed. |
| − | [[William | + | [[William Chasey]], 73, made the sensational allegation in his autobiography, [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15959988-truth-never-dies "Truth Never Dies – The Bill Chasey Story",] which is to be turned into a film. |
| − | He claims agents tried to convince him to plant homing devices on Megrahi and Fhimah as part of the plot. | + | He claims agents tried to convince him to plant homing devices on [[Megrahi]] and [[Fhimah]] as part of the plot. |
However, a former [[FBI]] chief has dismissed the claim as “nonsense”. | However, a former [[FBI]] chief has dismissed the claim as “nonsense”. | ||
| − | Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over southern Scotland in 1988, killing 270 people. Megrahi, who died last year in Tripoli, was the only person convicted of the murders. Fhimah was acquitted in the 2001 trial at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands. | + | [[Pan Am Flight 103]] exploded over southern Scotland in 1988, killing 270 people. [[Megrahi]], who died last year in Tripoli, was the only person convicted of the murders. [[Fhimah]] was acquitted in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Court_in_the_Netherlands the 2001 trial at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands.] |
| − | Mr Chasey, president of the [ | + | Mr Chasey, president of the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VBzfP6H9G4 Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility,] a non-governmental organisation, became involved with [[Libya]] and [[Pan Am Flight 103#The Investigation|the Lockerbie investigation]] when he was a lobbyist in Washington. |
| − | “On behalf of business clients, I went on a lobbying mission in 1992 with a US congressman in a bid to stabilise relations between the US and [Muammar | + | “On behalf of business clients, I went on a lobbying mission in 1992 with a [[US congressman]] in a bid to stabilise relations between the US and [[Muammar Gaddafi]]’s hated regime,” he said. |
| − | He told how he was taken to a private meeting with the two Lockerbie accused at a house in Tripoli. “Myself and the congressman and his wife then met Gaddafi and heard his pleas for help within Washington to get sanctions lifted, and heard his claims that Libya was not involved in Lockerbie,” Mr Chasey said. | + | He told how he was taken to a private meeting with the two Lockerbie accused at a house in Tripoli. “Myself and the congressman and his wife then met |
| + | [[Muammar Gaddafi|Gaddafi]] and heard his pleas for help within Washington to get sanctions lifted, and heard his claims that [[Libya]] was not involved in [[Pan Am Flight 103|Lockerbie]],” Mr Chasey said. | ||
“He spoke of the death of his daughter in a US air attack on his home and appealed directly to the congressman’s wife, as a mother, to get her husband to use his influence.” | “He spoke of the death of his daughter in a US air attack on his home and appealed directly to the congressman’s wife, as a mother, to get her husband to use his influence.” | ||
| − | Mr Chasey claims this clandestine meeting raised suspicions at the FBI, which launched a lengthy investigation into him. | + | Mr Chasey claims this clandestine meeting raised suspicions at the [[FBI]], which launched a lengthy investigation into him. |
| − | Then, in 1995, he wrote a controversial book, Foreign Agent 4221: The Lockerbie Cover-Up, which claimed Libya was not responsible for the bombing. | + | Then, in 1995, he wrote a controversial book, [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Foreign-Agent-4221-Lockerbie-Cover-up/dp/1887314016 Foreign Agent 4221: The Lockerbie Cover-Up,] which claimed [[Libya]] was not responsible for the bombing. |
| − | “The FBI investigation, along with a probe by the US tax service, damaged my business and put incredible pressure on my wife, Virginia, and our young daughter Katie,” he said. | + | “The [[FBI]] investigation, along with a probe by the US tax service, damaged my business and put incredible pressure on my wife, Virginia, and our young daughter Katie,” he said. |
| − | The family moved to Poland, where Mr Chasey had ties. | + | The family moved to [[Poland]], where Mr Chasey had ties. |
He said: “I was hit with 21 felony charges over crimes including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, even larceny and forgery over allegations I stole headed notepaper from congressional offices.” | He said: “I was hit with 21 felony charges over crimes including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, even larceny and forgery over allegations I stole headed notepaper from congressional offices.” | ||
| Line 44: | Line 46: | ||
He denies the claims and says all but one were dropped in 1998 when he agreed a plea bargain and admitted a charge of filing a false tax return. | He denies the claims and says all but one were dropped in 1998 when he agreed a plea bargain and admitted a charge of filing a false tax return. | ||
| − | It was at this point he claims he was contacted by the CIA at Dulles Airport in Washington. “An agent approached me and asked if I could meet again with Megrahi and Fhimah to pinpoint their location so the CIA could assassinate them. In return, the charge would be dropped and my record expunged,” he said. | + | It was at this point he claims he was contacted by the [[CIA]] at Dulles Airport in Washington. “An agent approached me and asked if I could meet again with [[Megrahi]] and [[Fhimah]] to pinpoint their location so the [[CIA]] could assassinate them. In return, the charge would be dropped and my record expunged,” he said.{{QB|“He wasn’t explicit but my belief is that the [[CIA]] wanted the suspects eliminated to stop any trial taking place and bury the alternative view that [[Iran]] and [[Syria]] were behind [[Pan Am Flight 103|Lockerbie]].”}} |
| − | + | Mr Chasey, 73, was sentenced to 75 days in jail, 75 days in a half-way house and two years probation for the tax offence. He said:{{QB|“I was sent to Allenwood Federal Prison in Pennsylvania and was amazed when I was joined in the canteen one day by the same [[CIA]] agent and one of his colleagues, dressed as inmates. | |
| − | + | “They offered to free me and clear my record, but I said I would not take part in their plot to put electronic homing devices in the suspects’ residences so they could be targeted. I told them, ‘With all of your vast resources, the one thing you will never be able to destroy is my character’.”}} | |
| − | |||
| − | “They offered to free me and clear my record, but I said I would not take part in their plot to put electronic homing devices in the suspects’ residences so they could be targeted. I told them, ‘With all of your vast resources, the one thing you will never be able to destroy is my character’.” | ||
Mr Chasey said he had decided to speak out now after being diagnosed with incurable cancer. | Mr Chasey said he had decided to speak out now after being diagnosed with incurable cancer. | ||
| Line 56: | Line 56: | ||
“Apart from my wife, no-one has known about this until now. I love my country, but I fear my government”, he said. | “Apart from my wife, no-one has known about this until now. I love my country, but I fear my government”, he said. | ||
| − | Dr [[Jim Swire]], whose daughter Flora, 23, died in the bombing, believes Megrahi was innocent. He said he had read Mr Chasey’s book and thought it was believable | + | Dr [[Jim Swire]], whose daughter Flora, 23, died in the bombing, believes [[Megrahi]] was innocent. He said he had read Mr Chasey’s book and thought it was believable:{{QB|“I think [[Bill Chasey]] is telling the truth about the [[CIA]],” he said. “He is a respected philanthropist and was a leading lobbyist in Washington, so he’s not a crank.”}} |
| − | However, former [[FBI assistant director | + | However, former [[FBI]] assistant director [[Buck Revell]], who oversaw its [[Pan Am Flight 103#The Investigation|Lockerbie investigation]] until 1991, said of Mr Chasey’s claims: “That’s nonsense.” |
| − | The CIA refused to comment. | + | The [[CIA]] refused to comment. |
Latest revision as of 21:35, 29 October 2021
| A report of William Chasey's allegation (after being diagnosed with incurable cancer) that CIA agents tried to convince him to plant homing devices on Megrahi and Fhimah as part of the plot to assassinate them before the Lockerbie trial. |
article by Gareth Rose, Bob Smyth dated 2013/07/05Subjects: Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, CIA, William Chasey, Jim Swire, Buck Revell
Source: The Scotsman (Link)
Wikispooks Comment
More important evidence emerges...
★ Start a Discussion about this document
The CIA wanted to assassinate Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and his co-accused, Lamin Khalifah Fhimah, before their trial, a former Washington lobbyist has claimed.
William Chasey, 73, made the sensational allegation in his autobiography, "Truth Never Dies – The Bill Chasey Story", which is to be turned into a film.
He claims agents tried to convince him to plant homing devices on Megrahi and Fhimah as part of the plot.
However, a former FBI chief has dismissed the claim as “nonsense”.
Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over southern Scotland in 1988, killing 270 people. Megrahi, who died last year in Tripoli, was the only person convicted of the murders. Fhimah was acquitted in the 2001 trial at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands.
Mr Chasey, president of the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility, a non-governmental organisation, became involved with Libya and the Lockerbie investigation when he was a lobbyist in Washington.
“On behalf of business clients, I went on a lobbying mission in 1992 with a US congressman in a bid to stabilise relations between the US and Muammar Gaddafi’s hated regime,” he said.
He told how he was taken to a private meeting with the two Lockerbie accused at a house in Tripoli. “Myself and the congressman and his wife then met Gaddafi and heard his pleas for help within Washington to get sanctions lifted, and heard his claims that Libya was not involved in Lockerbie,” Mr Chasey said.
“He spoke of the death of his daughter in a US air attack on his home and appealed directly to the congressman’s wife, as a mother, to get her husband to use his influence.”
Mr Chasey claims this clandestine meeting raised suspicions at the FBI, which launched a lengthy investigation into him.
Then, in 1995, he wrote a controversial book, Foreign Agent 4221: The Lockerbie Cover-Up, which claimed Libya was not responsible for the bombing.
“The FBI investigation, along with a probe by the US tax service, damaged my business and put incredible pressure on my wife, Virginia, and our young daughter Katie,” he said.
The family moved to Poland, where Mr Chasey had ties.
He said: “I was hit with 21 felony charges over crimes including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, even larceny and forgery over allegations I stole headed notepaper from congressional offices.”
He denies the claims and says all but one were dropped in 1998 when he agreed a plea bargain and admitted a charge of filing a false tax return.
It was at this point he claims he was contacted by the CIA at Dulles Airport in Washington. “An agent approached me and asked if I could meet again with Megrahi and Fhimah to pinpoint their location so the CIA could assassinate them. In return, the charge would be dropped and my record expunged,” he said.
“He wasn’t explicit but my belief is that the CIA wanted the suspects eliminated to stop any trial taking place and bury the alternative view that Iran and Syria were behind Lockerbie.”
Mr Chasey, 73, was sentenced to 75 days in jail, 75 days in a half-way house and two years probation for the tax offence. He said:
“I was sent to Allenwood Federal Prison in Pennsylvania and was amazed when I was joined in the canteen one day by the same CIA agent and one of his colleagues, dressed as inmates. “They offered to free me and clear my record, but I said I would not take part in their plot to put electronic homing devices in the suspects’ residences so they could be targeted. I told them, ‘With all of your vast resources, the one thing you will never be able to destroy is my character’.”
Mr Chasey said he had decided to speak out now after being diagnosed with incurable cancer.
“Apart from my wife, no-one has known about this until now. I love my country, but I fear my government”, he said.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora, 23, died in the bombing, believes Megrahi was innocent. He said he had read Mr Chasey’s book and thought it was believable:
“I think Bill Chasey is telling the truth about the CIA,” he said. “He is a respected philanthropist and was a leading lobbyist in Washington, so he’s not a crank.”
However, former FBI assistant director Buck Revell, who oversaw its Lockerbie investigation until 1991, said of Mr Chasey’s claims: “That’s nonsense.”
The CIA refused to comment.
