Legal Definitions - cover-up

Definition:Concealment of wrongdoing, especially through deception, withholding of information, and destruction of evidence, often accompanied by a refusal to cooperate with investigators. A cover-up frequently involves obstructing justice.

• A company covers up evidence of toxic waste dumping by falsifying records and bribing officials.
• A politician tries to cover up an affair by paying off the person involved and lying to the media.
• A police department covers up excessive use of force by officers by withholding video evidence and intimidating witnesses.

These examples illustrate how a cover-up involves actively hiding or destroying evidence and misleading others to avoid consequences for wrongdoing. It often involves multiple people working together to maintain the deception and prevent the truth from coming to light.