[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[City officials swore they knew of no donors in a law firm that they employed, but later said an omission had created a misstatement.]

Do you think that in tha above styatement, they were trying to distance themselves from the fact that the "created mistatement" was actually a deceit by omission (e.g. a lie) on their part? Naaaah.

[Liz]

Do I think ....they were trying to distance themselves from the fact that the "created mistatement" was actually a deceit by omission (e.g. a lie) on their part?

I think they were trying to finesse a falsity by inventing a lie to cover the ommission of truth by a prevarication.