Colorado District 1 Republicans Express Concern Over Denver Mayor’s Use of Encrypted, Auto-Deleting Messaging Apps
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2025
Contact: Colorado District 1 GOP
DENVER, CO – The Colorado District 1 Republican Party is deeply concerned by revelations that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and his administration have utilized the encrypted messaging application Signal, which automatically deletes communications that should be accessible to the public under Colorado’s open records laws. This activity, uncovered in a CBS News Colorado investigation published March 20, 2025, raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in Denver’s city operations.
Mayor Johnston and his top advisors, dubbed the “Strike Force,” used Signal to discuss the city’s illegal immigrant crisis, with messages set to auto-delete. The mayor’s spokesperson, Jordan Fuja, confirmed that this group was a response to potential federal immigration enforcement under President Trump. Employing an application that erases records undermines the public’s right to observe government decision making. Jeff Roberts of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition has described the situation as an “intentional effort to undermine Colorado’s open records law.”
While the exposed use of Signal pertains specifically to the immigration crisis, the Colorado District 1 GOP is alarmed by the possibility that this lack of transparency extends to other aspects of Denver city governance. The administration’s move to encrypted, auto-deleting communications came despite a December 11, 2024, directive from Denver’s Chief Information Security Officer, Merlin Namuth, explicitly instructing mayoral staff to avoid using such apps for city business. This discrepancy suggests a deliberate attempt to conceal information.
The decision to disable the auto-delete function does little to mitigate our concerns. Records retention policies typically require preserving public communications for three years, a standard the mayor’s office disputes. The Colorado District 1 GOP finds it improper that city officials prioritize secrecy over accountability, especially when citizens deserve clarity on how their government operates.
We call on Mayor Johnston and the City of Denver to immediately cease using encrypted, auto-deleting apps for public business, recover any deleted records where possible, and commit to full compliance with Colorado’s open records laws. The people of Denver deserve a government that operates in the open, not one that hides behind encrypted walls. The Colorado District 1 GOP will continue to advocate for transparency and integrity in local governance, ensuring the rights of our constituents are respected.
