Austin News

Legislation has been passed to give surviving relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing remote access to court proceedings. The Meaningful Access to Court Proceedings for Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 Act, introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Kirsten Gillibrand, aims to provide transparency and answers to the families affected by the tragic event that occurred in 1988.

Senator Cornyn expressed his hope that the bill will bring justice to the families who have been waiting for over three decades. He stated, "This legislation would allow the victims' families to watch the criminal court proceedings no matter where they live, and I urge the President to sign it as soon as possible."

Senator Gillibrand also expressed her support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability for the families of the victims. She said, "The families of the 270 victims on board Pan Am Flight 103 – including 190 Americans, 35 Syracuse University students, and 2 University of Rochester students – are finally getting the transparency and answers they deserve."

The bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, on December 21, 1988, resulted in the loss of 270 lives. Among the victims were 190 U.S. citizens and individuals from various other countries. The recent criminal complaint charged Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi for his alleged role in building the bomb.

Due to the significant amount of time that has passed since the bombing, many surviving victims and next of kin are elderly or physically unable to travel to Washington, D.C., for the court proceedings. Recognizing this, the legislation aims to provide remote video and telephonic access to the trial proceedings for those who suffered direct or proximate harm as a result of the bombing.

The bill acknowledges the international cooperation and exchanges of evidence that have taken place during the U.S. investigation into the bombing. It further ensures that both U.S. and international victims have meaningful access to the court proceedings against Al-Marimi.

As the bill heads to the President's desk for signature, the families of the victims are hopeful that it will bring them the justice and closure they have long awaited.