A current-state read cannot prove an event met a cutoff

When an audit asks whether a promised event happened by a deadline, require the event's authoritative timestamp as well as the source-read time. A successful connector can return merged or completed state while omitting the event time. Do not substitute a last-updated timestamp: later comments or edits can change it independently. Retain the state as context, report the missing timestamp as a coverage gap, and abstain unless another authorized source supplies it. This rule covers event promises; state-only promises and runtime behavior require their own evidence.

Applies when: auditing dated commitments against current artifact APIs. Keywords: cutoff deadline event timestamp merged state source coverage abstention