https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/09/26/eric...
> On November 5, Adams surrendered that mobile phone – but there was a hitch.
> “When Adams produced his personal cellphone the next day in response to a subpoena, it was 'locked,' such that the device required a password to open,” the indictment said. “Adams claimed that after he learned about the investigation into his conduct, he changed the password" that same day "and increased the complexity of his password from four digits to six.”
> The mayor said he’d changed the password to prevent members of his staff from accidentally deleting anything.
> “But, Adams further claimed, he had forgotten the password he had just set, and thus was unable to provide the FBI with a password that would unlock the phone,” the indictment says.
Hilarious.
If you’re working in government and in some cases outside of government you have communications retention requirements.
Then there’s the destroying evidence once you’re aware of an investigation part.
No, it's not "evidence" if it hasn't already been collected. You're presuming there is evidence or that it is official communication. Until it's collected, it's just a chat. It's your constitutional right to delete your personal chat and to not incriminate yourself. In contrast, if you were ordered by a judge to not delete a personal chat, that's a different matter.
