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ae Me Memorandum to Mr. Leavitt Re: BAPBOM 157-1025 4 DETAILS; BAPBOM is the code name for our investigation of bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama, 9/15/63. Ny Article captioned $3. BOMBING DATA WITHHELD BY F.B.I." appeared in 3/20/76 edition of New York Times. Article states that Alabama State AG William Baxley, in 1971, requested results of FBI investigation in captioned case but that the FBI "withheld" the requested information until December, 1975. The article stated that the information was given to Mr, Baxley "only after a newsman learned of the Bureau's refusing to cooperate with the Baxley investigation and inquired about it in Washington," The Director asked, "What about this?" , The article is inaccurate. The facts are set out below. On 4/5/71 Baxiey called FBIHQ advising he had recentiy become AG of Alabama, that he wanted to furnish any possible help he could to the FBI to solve captioned case and that he would like to talk to someone in that regard. When contacted by SAC, Birmingham, on 4/6/71, Baxley advised he had launched an inquiry into captioned case and desired FBI assistance. Specifically, he requested names of witnesses who could place certain suspects in Birmingham on, the date of the bombing, any available information as to automobiles then operated by those suspects and the nature of the device or devices used in the bombing. He also requested the results of polygraph tests given to suspects and asked to interview the operator(s) who administered the tests. Baxley's request was referred to the Civil Rights Division (CRD) (case handled by that division}. Our referral letter stated that no further action would be taken by the FBI regarding Baxiey‘s request in the absence of specific instructions from CRD. On 4/14/71 SAC, Birmingham, advised Baxley his request.hag been referred to CRD. Baxley said he was going to call Jerris Leonard (then Assistant AG in charge of CRD), with whom he was personally acquainted to seek Departmental clearance for desired information. No reply to our referral letter was received from CRD. CONTINUED - OVER