For Immediate Release
March 19, 2003

Philadelphia, PA
(215) 418-4000

FBI RECOVERS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COPIES OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS

Jeffery A. Lampinski, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the FBI announced the recovery of one of 14 original copies of the Bill of Rights. This document was seized on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 as the result of an undercover operation conducted by the FBI in Philadelphia.

The FBI learned that the National Constitution Center (NCC) reported the document was being offered for sale. During the authentication process, the NCC determined that this copy had been made for the State of North Carolina in 1789 and notified the Honorable Michael F. Easley, Governor of North Carolina.

In 1789, the Continental Congress wrote the Bill of Rights in New York and George Washington, President of the United States, ordered that 14 copies be hand written and sent to each of the 13 original states and one for the federal government. These copies were to be ratified by each state.

Historical records indicate that on April 14, 1865, Union Troops under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman, entered the State Capitol in Raleigh, North Carolina and took the Bill of Rights. It is believed that a Union soldier took this copy of the Bill of Rights home with him to Tippecanoe, Ohio.

The document has surfaced for sale back to North Carolina a number of times since the Civil War, but the state official said they would not buy back its own property.

When the NCC determined that this was the missing North Carolina copy of the Bill of Rights, the state of North Carolina was notified and the FBI began an investigation into the proposed sale of the document.

This investigation is a result of cooperation on many levels. SAC Lampinski would like to thank The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania, The Honorable Michael F. Easley, Governor of North Carolina, and Roy Cooper, Attorney General of North Carolina for their commitment to the return of this historic document. Outstanding assistance from the NCC, the United States Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the United States Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Charlotte Division of the FBI and Stephen J. Harmelin of the Dillworth and Paxton law firm enabled the FBI to recover the Bill of Rights.

This North Carolina Bill of Rights, although priceless to the heritage of the United States of America, is believed to be worth between 20 to 30 million dollars.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper stated, Our goal was to reclaim a piece of North Carolina history. We now look forward to seeing our copy of the Bill of Rights returned to its rightful owners, the people of North Carolina.

Joseph Torsella, CEO and President of the NCC stated, "Throughout this process, the NCC's main concern has been always to do the right thing by this document and we're happy, above all, that it is protected and safe. We are proud to have played a role in safeguarding this American treasure and our greatest hope is that all the attention which is being paid to this remarkable document prompts people across the country to reacquaint themselves with the remarkable ideas it embodies. It's those ideas that make us uniquely American."

The document will be returned to North Carolina shortly. No one has been charged at this time. The investigation in continuing.