Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Accused of Deleting Text Messages, Raising Transparency Concerns
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is reportedly deleting her text messages, preventing media organizations from accessing them as public records, according to the Los Angeles Times.The Times revealed that it was unable to obtain Bass’s text messages related to her overseas trip to Ghana—during which major fires broke out in L.A.—because they were automatically erased and not retained by the city.The report states:Bass and her office claimed she remained in constant communication during the crisis. However, the exact nature of those communications is unclear since her messages were not preserved, according to a city attorney.
“Her phone is set not to save text messages,” said city lawyer David Michaelson.
Michaelson asserted that there is “no requirement that a city official or employee save text messages,” despite the city’s own document retention policies, which mandate that most records be preserved for at least two years.
The Times suggests Bass’s actions may violate both state law and Los Angeles' administrative code.
Meanwhile, Breitbart News has reached out to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to inquire whether his office intends to investigate or take legal action against the mayor regarding the deleted messages.