Report on Palm Springs mayor’s personal office camera released

The report detailing an investigation into the use of a personal surveillance camera by Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon in his City Hall office was released Wednesday evening.

The report clears the Moon stating that there was never any evidence to suggest that he did record any conversations via camera or intercom. However, it is also noted that the camera and intercom could be used to do many of the things that the Mayor was accused of, like spying on private meetings via camera or intercom. The report also revealed City Manager David Ready was aware that the camera was in the Mayor’s office prior to the complaints.

In April 2018, the Palm Springs city attorney was made aware of complaints that were brought to his attention about Mayor Moon utilizing a Blink security camera and an Amazon intercom system to record people in his office and to eavesdrop on conversations.

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Moon maintained throughout that this the intention of the hardware was not nefarious and that the technological capability was not there to back up the allegations.

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“The technology wasn’t there. The system in the office is a simple Blink system. If someone enters my office at night, when it’s turned on, it will alert me on my iPhone and take a ten-second video,” Moon said.

A law enforcement investigation into Moon’s actions was dismissed in June.

Palm Springs councilmembers request new investigation into Mayor’s office recordings

Councilmembers Geoff Kors and Christ Holstege requested an internal investigation into the mayor’s alleged office recordings in July.