# Why doesn't anybody record conversations with government officials? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2021, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662 "2021-07-16T18:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662/21 "2021-07-17T06:27:15Z")
In California you would be guilty of a crime. IF you recorded a conversation with the President that includes classified info you are guilty of a crime. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662/22 "2021-07-17T06:34:13Z")
Jeez dude, this was already brought up in the second post. So what if it’s a crime. Let’s see. War or an illegal wiretap charge? Which would I choose? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662/23 "2021-07-17T06:38:22Z")
What a Trumpy response. Laws are only applicable to others. And you might also face a treason charge. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662/24 "2021-07-17T08:57:11Z")
Looks like DC has a one-party consent law. So it would be legal to record your conversations in general. > **[Recording Phone Calls and Conversations: 50-State Survey](https://www.justia.com/50-state-surveys/recording-phone-calls-and-conversations/)** > > A survey of the electronic recording and eavesdropping laws of the 50 US states and DC, including how many parties must consent to the recording, with links to relevant case law and statutes. I don’t know if there are special rules for classified conversations. Do conversations even become classified until they’ve happened? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662/25 "2021-07-17T12:54:32Z")
[Moderating] > [@mordecaiB](#): > > Jeez dude, this was already brought up in the second post. So what if it’s a crime. Let’s see. War or an illegal wiretap charge? Which would I choose? If your intention was to encourage lawbreaking, then this thread is closed. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662/26 "2021-07-17T12:54:40Z")
Closed on July 17, 2021, 12:54pm UTC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-anybody-record-conversations-with-government-officials/946662.md?page=1)