LA Mayor Karen Bass accused of deleting texts in wake of wildfire disaster

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass deleted her substance messages from the archetypal days of the deadly wildfires that destroyed aggregate communities successful January, according to a report.

Bass was connected a travel to Africa for the swearing-in of Ghana’s president erstwhile the Palisades Fire erupted connected Jan. 7. The politician did not get backmost into the metropolis until Jan. 8.

While Bass and her bureau person said that she was successful changeless connection with officials during that 24-hour play of travel, her substance messages from that clip nary longer exist, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Her telephone is acceptable not to prevention substance messages," metropolis lawyer David Michaelson told the newspaper, adding that Bass’ telephone has auto-deleted substance messages for astatine slightest 2 years.

LA MAYOR BASS POINTS FINGERS WHEN GRILLED ON AFRICA TRIP AMID BOTCHED WILDFIRE RESPONSE

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has faced dense disapproval implicit her travel to Africa astatine the clip the deadly Palisades Fire erupted. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times, File)

Los Angeles administrative codification requires astir records to beryllium kept for astatine slightest 2 years, though Michaelson argued that determination is "no request that a metropolis authoritative oregon worker prevention substance messages." 

The insubstantial said it had filed a nationalist records petition connected Jan. 10 for each substance messages that the politician sent and received portion she traveled connected Jan. 7 and 8 regarding occurrence effect oregon her question plans.

Bass’ bureau told the outlet connected Thursday that it had "no responsive records" to fulfill the request. The insubstantial noted that Bass’ bureau did not supply a crushed wherefore oregon accidental whether it was withholding immoderate records.

The California Public Records Act has nary circumstantial rules for papers retention, according to the newspaper, though it does accidental that erstwhile an bureau denies a request, it indispensable authorities why.

LA MAYOR KAREN BASS POSED FOR PHOTOS AT A COCKTAIL PARTY AS PALISADES FIRE EXPLODED

Bass has faced backlash implicit her travel and botched effect successful the aboriginal days of the wildfires.

Firefighters ticker a chopper driblet h2o connected the Palisades Fire successful Mandeville Canyon successful Los Angeles connected Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Last month, Bass conceded her Africa trip was "absolutely" a mistake and that she was moving to regain the public’s trust.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"Absolutely it is, and I deliberation that I person to show that each time by showing what we're doing, what is working, what are the challenges," Bass told NBC Los Angeles erstwhile asked if she’s trying to "regain confidence."

Fox News Digital’s Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.