Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has come under scrutiny after reports revealed that her text messages are automatically deleted, raising concerns about transparency and compliance with public records laws.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Bass’s office failed to provide her text messages concerning her overseas trip to Ghana, which took place while L.A. faced devastating wildfires. The city claimed the messages were not retained because the mayor’s phone was set to delete them automatically.
“Her phone is set not to save text messages,” city attorney David Michaelson stated. He also noted that there is “no requirement that a city official or employee save text messages,” despite city policies mandating that most records be preserved for at least two years.
The Times suggests that Bass’s deletion of messages could violate both California state law and the city’s administrative code, which require officials to retain government-related communications for transparency and accountability.
Breitbart News has reached out to Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman to inquire whether his office plans to investigate or take legal action regarding the potential violation of records laws.
Critics argue that automatic deletion of government text messages undermines transparency, particularly during critical events like the L.A. wildfires. The controversy adds to growing concerns over the city’s accountability and record-keeping practices.
Government watchdog groups have called for an independent investigation into whether Bass’s actions violated public records laws. Transparency advocates argue that deleting official communications prevents journalists and the public from holding elected officials accountable.
They point out that similar cases in other cities have led to legal action and policy reforms to ensure government records are properly retained. If an investigation moves forward, it could set a precedent for how digital records are handled by public officials in Los Angeles and beyond.
