Cover-up

A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of error, incompetence, or other embarrassing information. In a passive cover-up, information is simply not provided; in an active cover-up, deception is used.

Quotes

• Because we have sought to cover up past evil, though it still persists, we have been powerless to check the new evil of today. Evil unchecked grows, Evil tolerated poisons the whole system.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru, The Unity of India: Collected Writings, 1937-1940 (1942), p. 280

• ... once an institution has embraced a particular lie in support of a particular coverup, it will forever proclaim its innocence.
  • Ron Ridenhour, "Perspective on My Lai", The Los Angeles Times, March 16, 1993

See also

• Deception