diff --git a/cogs/moderation.py b/cogs/moderation.py
index f8e8ecd..c0d78c7 100644
--- a/cogs/moderation.py
+++ b/cogs/moderation.py
@@ -164,6 +164,63 @@ async def _post_to_mod_channel(guild: discord.Guild, role: Optional[discord.Role
     return False
 
 
+def _is_staff_member(member) -> bool:
+    """True if the message author is staff (admin/mod permissions)."""
+    perms = getattr(member, "guild_permissions", None)
+    if perms is None:
+        return False
+    return (perms.administrator or perms.manage_guild or perms.manage_roles
+            or perms.ban_members or perms.kick_members or perms.manage_messages)
+
+
+async def purge_lounge_for_user(guild: discord.Guild, user: discord.abc.Snowflake, limit: int = 2000) -> int:
+    """Clear the absolved user's messages plus all staff/bot messages from the lounge.
+
+    Messages from *other* excommunicated (non-staff) users are left untouched.
+    Returns the number of messages deleted (0 if the channel is missing or the
+    bot lacks Manage Messages / Read Message History).
+    """
+    data = get_guild_data(guild.id)
+    ch_id = data.get("xcom_channel_id")
+    channel = guild.get_channel(ch_id) if ch_id else None
+    if not channel or not isinstance(channel, discord.TextChannel):
+        return 0
+
+    me = guild.me
+
+    def _should_delete(msg: discord.Message) -> bool:
+        # The absolved user's own messages.
+        if msg.author.id == user.id:
+            return True
+        # Bot / system messages (welcome embeds, notices) count as admin-side.
+        if me is not None and msg.author.id == me.id:
+            return True
+        # Any staff/admin/witness messages.
+        if _is_staff_member(msg.author):
+            return True
+        # Otherwise it belongs to another excommunicated user — keep it.
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        # bulk=True deletes messages <14 days old in batches and older ones
+        # individually; the check filters which messages are removed.
+        deleted = await channel.purge(
+            limit=limit, check=_should_delete, bulk=True,
+            reason=f"XCOM cleanup: removed {user} + staff messages on absolution",
+        )
+        logger.info(
+            "Purged %d lounge messages (absolved=%s + staff/bot) in guild %s",
+            len(deleted), user.id, guild.id,
+        )
+        return len(deleted)
+    except discord.Forbidden:
+        logger.warning("Missing permission to purge xcom-lounge in guild %s "
+                       "(need Manage Messages + Read Message History)", guild.id)
+    except discord.HTTPException as err:
+        logger.warning("Failed to purge xcom-lounge in guild %s: %s", guild.id, err)
+    return 0
+
+
 def _keyword_list_embed(guild: discord.Guild) -> discord.Embed:
     """Build an embed listing the guild's auto-score keywords."""
     keywords = get_keywords(guild.id)
@@ -483,8 +540,17 @@ class ModerationCog(commands.Cog):
         except discord.HTTPException:
             pass
 
+        # Clear this user's messages plus all staff/bot messages from the lounge,
+        # leaving other excommunicated users' messages intact.
+        purged = await purge_lounge_for_user(guild, user)
+        purge_note = (
+            f" Cleared {purged} lounge message(s) (their posts + staff/bot messages)."
+            if purged else ""
+        )
+
         await interaction.followup.send(
-            f"✅ {user.mention} has been released from XCOM and restored to normal access. The [XCOM] mark remains until an admin removes it.",
+            f"✅ {user.mention} has been released from XCOM and restored to normal access. "
+            f"The [XCOM] mark remains until an admin removes it.{purge_note}",
             ephemeral=True
         )
 
@@ -604,8 +670,17 @@ class ModerationCog(commands.Cog):
         # Optional: remove from isolated list but keep the mark flag
         remove_isolated_user(guild.id, user.id)
 
+        # Clear this user's messages plus all staff/bot messages from the lounge,
+        # leaving other excommunicated users' messages intact.
+        purged = await purge_lounge_for_user(guild, user)
+        purge_note = (
+            f" Cleared {purged} lounge message(s) (their posts + staff/bot messages)."
+            if purged else ""
+        )
+
         await interaction.followup.send(
-            f"✅ {user.mention} has been absolved ({points} points). The [XCOM] mark remains until manually removed.",
+            f"✅ {user.mention} has been absolved ({points} points). The [XCOM] mark remains until manually removed."
+            f"{purge_note}",
             ephemeral=True
         )