Investigators, police and outside counsel say slide was altered; experts differ

A city-commissioned review and excerpts of investigative testimony played at the hearing concluded that the PowerPoint slide used in support of the incentive application appeared intentionally altered to conceal FEMA release dates. An investigative memo read into the record concluded the slide "appears to have been intentionally altered to cover the dates that appear on the government website." The Corpus Christi Police Department’s technical reviewer also testified in a clip that the screenshot "was definitely altered" and that "it would be hard to argue that it was not [intentional]."

Outside counsel and investigators (admitted exhibits and audio) told the tribunal they had reviewed presentations, depositions and record materials and reached that conclusion; the report language was included in evidence. The developer and some council members disputed the finding in testimony and said no final prosecutorial decision had been reached: Ramirez said he believed the omission was inadvertent and counsel repeatedly objected when line of questioning moved into possible criminality.

City staff removed and later re-uploaded or revised several supporting documents on the public agenda portal, according to the Legistar audit trail shown to the tribunal; counsel pursued who authorized deletions, what was changed and whether the public record had been preserved. The city manager and staff told the hearing they had directed corrections and further review.