scamnesia

1. diagnosis Dx for political high ups when they reply to Congressional hearings or a Federal Grand Jury with the defense "I don't recall."

Variations: "I don't remember."
"I don't know."
"I don't recollect."

2. Dx for cheating significant others, or persons involved in possible criminal conduct or nefarious activities in a workplace.

1. Scooter Libby's scamnesia defense in 2004 Congressional hearings re: the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame, whose former diplomatic corp husband was a vocal war critic.

Invented by President Ronald Reagan, who caught a serious case of scamnesia(later dx'd as alzheimers) during the Iran-Contra hearings in 1987
"The simple truth is, 'I don't remember - period'" - President Reagan writing to the Tower Commission to set the record straight about whether he authorized the arms shipment (to Iran)in advance.