Whitewash is commonly used hereabouts in the sense of "ruse" or "coverup."

Webster's defines "whitewash" to include "2: to give a speciously pure or fair appearance to: as a: to gloss over or cover up (as vices or crimes) b: to exonerate or clear (as a person) of charges by means of a superficial or perfunctory investigation or examination or through artful or biased presentation of data"