August 23, 1995

Honorable Robert Rubin
Secretary of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220
FAX 2026222599

Dear Mr. Secretary:

Our church has been a victim of vandalism from pro-homosexual criminal extremists for some four years now, and last Sunday night a church member's family, home and property (which abuts the church property) was the target of a midnight bombing attack. As usual, we are getting zero cooperation from local law enforcement, and yesterday we asked help from U.S.A.G. Janet Reno. (See, attached letter) According to today's The Kansas City Star, "The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was aware of the explosion and had discussed it with (Topeka) Fire Department officials but did not plan to investigate at this time." (See, attached Star article)

Mr. Secretary, Sir! Why, if true, do you not plan to investigate the bombing of our church? Especially when our data base of empirical evidence reflects 27 separate and distinct instances of criminal violence and vandalism against our church property leading up to this recent bombing, and without a single investigation and prosecution by local authorities. The police chief and fire chief are exchanging mutually contradictory and childishly petty remarks in the local media, bespeaking cheap demagoguery and turf wars, but totally bereft of even a modicum of professionalism.

This is a formal request that you authorize and direct Mr. John Magaw, Director of BATF in Washington, and Mr. Richard Cook, Special Agent in Charge of BATF in Kansas City, Missouri, to immediately commence an investigation of this midnight bombing attack on our church, pursuant to the jurisdiction and powers given you under the Constitution and laws of the United States. And, please permit me to respectfully opine, Mr. Secretary, that the BATF's self-inflicted wound at Waco might be largely ameliorated by BATF's timely and appropriate conduct at Topeka. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Fred Phelps

CC: John Magaw (FAX 2029278876), Richard Cook (FAX 8164216511), Pres . Clinton, Sen. Dole, Rep. Brownback, & all media outlets