Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass deleted her text messages from the first days of the deadly wildfires that destroyed multiple communities in January, according to a report.
Bass was on a trip to Africa for the swearing-in of Ghana’s president when the Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7. The mayor did not get back into the city until Jan. 8.
While Bass and her office have said that she was in constant communication with officials during that 24-hour period of travel, her text messages from that time no longer exist, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Her phone is set not to save text messages,” city lawyer David Michaelson told the newspaper, adding that Bass’ phone has auto-deleted text messages for at least two years.
Los Angeles administrative code requires most records to be kept for at least two years, though Michaelson argued that there is “no requirement that a city official or employee save text messages.”
The paper said it had filed a public records request on Jan. 10 for all text messages that the mayor sent and received while she traveled on Jan. 7 and 8 regarding fire response or her travel plans.
Bass’ office told the outlet on Thursday that it had “no responsive records” to fulfill the request. The paper noted that Bass’ office did not provide a reason why or say whether it was withholding any records.
The California Public Records Act has no specific rules for document retention, according to the newspaper, though it does say that when an agency denies a request, it must state why.
Bass has faced backlash over her trip and botched response in the early days of the wildfires.
Last month, Bass conceded her Africa trip was “absolutely” a mistake and that she was working to regain the public’s trust.
“Absolutely it is, and I think that I have to demonstrate that every day by showing what we’re doing, what is working, what are the challenges,” Bass told NBC Los Angeles when asked if she’s trying to “regain confidence.”
