diff --git a/docs/PurgeFeatureSpec.md b/docs/PurgeFeatureSpec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2346ff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/PurgeFeatureSpec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+# Purge Feature Specification
+
+## Overview
+
+Automated message cleanup for Discord channels with configurable retention policies. Progressive build order: notifications → manual execution → auto-delete.
+
+## Commands
+
+### `/mod purge view`
+View current purge configuration for all channels.
+
+### `/mod purge set channel:<#channel> days:<number> [autodelete:<bool>]`
+Configure purge settings for a channel.
+
+- `channel` (required): Channel to configure
+- `days` (required): Retention window (1-365)
+- `autodelete` (optional, default: false): Enable auto-deletion
+
+**Validation:**
+- Channel must exist and be accessible
+- Days: 1-365
+- Auto-delete only available when Phase 3 is implemented
+
+### `/mod purge execute channel:<#channel>`
+Manually trigger purge for a channel. Requires confirmation prompt. Only available when Phase 2 is implemented.
+
+### `/mod purge disable channel:<#channel>`
+Disable purge for a channel.
+
+## Build Order
+
+### Phase 1: Notification Only (Build first)
+- Scheduled checks identify channels with messages past retention threshold
+- Post notifications to mod-comms channel
+- No deletion occurs
+- Deploy and monitor 2-4 weeks to verify accuracy
+
+### Phase 2: Manual Execution (Build second)
+- Implement `/mod purge execute` command
+- Moderators can manually trigger purge after reviewing notifications
+- Verify deletion mechanics work as expected
+- Run 2-4 weeks with spot checks
+
+### Phase 3: Auto-Delete (Build last)
+- Implement `autodelete` flag in `/mod purge set`
+- Bot automatically deletes qualifying messages on schedule
+- Posts summary to mod-comms after each purge
+- Enable gradually, starting with low-risk channels
+
+## Scheduled Checks
+
+**Cadence**: Configured via `PURGE_SCHEDULE_CRON` (default: every Sunday 9 AM UTC)
+
+**Process**:
+1. Iterate channels with configured retention windows
+2. Fetch messages older than retention threshold
+3. Count qualifying messages
+4. If count > 0:
+   - **Phase 1/2**: Post notification to mod-comms
+   - **Phase 3**: If autodelete enabled, delete messages and post summary; else notify
+
+**Notification format**:
+```
+🧹 Purge Alert
+Channel: #general
+Retention: 30 days
+Messages past threshold: 1,247
+Oldest: 2025-11-10 14:32 UTC
+```
+
+**Auto-delete summary**:
+```
+✅ Auto-Purge Complete
+Channel: #general
+Messages deleted: 1,247
+Oldest remaining: 2025-12-10 09:15 UTC
+```
+
+## Privacy & Security
+
+**The bot MUST NOT access message content.**
+
+While `READ_MESSAGE_HISTORY` grants access to full message objects, implementation should:
+
+**✅ DO:**
+- Access message `id` and `timestamp` only
+- Count messages for reporting
+
+**❌ DO NOT:**
+- Read message `content`, `author`, `embeds`, `attachments`
+- Log message data (even in errors)
+- Store message information beyond counts
+
+**Implementation pattern**:
+```javascript
+// Extract only metadata immediately
+const messages = await channel.messages.fetch({ limit: 100 });
+const toDelete = messages
+  .filter(msg => Date.now() - msg.createdTimestamp > retentionMs)
+  .map(msg => msg.id);  // Only ID
+```
+
+## Database Schema
+
+```sql
+-- Channel retention policies
+CREATE TABLE purge_config (
+  channel_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+  retention_days INTEGER NOT NULL,
+  autodelete_enabled BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE,
+  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+  updated_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
+);
+
+-- Audit trail
+CREATE TABLE purge_history (
+  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
+  channel_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+  executed_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+  messages_deleted INTEGER NOT NULL,
+  trigger_type TEXT NOT NULL, -- 'manual', 'auto', 'scheduled_check'
+  triggered_by TEXT,          -- user_id or 'system'
+  oldest_deleted TIMESTAMP,
+  newest_deleted TIMESTAMP
+);
+```
+
+## Discord API
+
+### Rate Limits
+- **Bulk delete**: Max 100 messages, must be < 14 days old
+- **Individual delete**: 5 messages/sec for messages > 14 days old
+- Use bulk delete when possible, fall back to individual delete for older messages
+
+### Deletion Logic
+```javascript
+For each message:
+  // ONLY access: message.id, message.timestamp
+  message_age = now - message.timestamp
+  if message_age > retention_days:
+    if message.timestamp < 14_days_ago:
+      delete_individual(message.id)
+    else:
+      add_to_bulk_batch(message.id)
+      if batch.size >= PURGE_BATCH_SIZE:
+        bulk_delete(batch)
+        sleep(PURGE_BATCH_DELAY_MS)
+```
+
+### Permissions Required
+- `MANAGE_MESSAGES` - Delete messages
+- `READ_MESSAGE_HISTORY` - Fetch message metadata (ID, timestamp)
+- `VIEW_CHANNEL` - Access channels
+
+## Environment Variables
+
+```bash
+PURGE_SCHEDULE_CRON="0 9 * * 0"      # Cron schedule (default: Sundays 9 AM UTC)
+PURGE_MOD_CHANNEL_ID="123456789"     # Notification channel ID
+PURGE_BATCH_SIZE="100"               # Messages per batch (max 100)
+PURGE_BATCH_DELAY_MS="1000"          # Delay between batches
+```
+
+## Error Handling
+
+- If deletion fails (permissions, rate limit), log error and skip
+- Post error summary to mod-comms
+- Continue with remaining messages (don't abort)
+
+## Safety Features
+
+- **Progressive rollout**: Three phases ensure safe deployment
+- **Confirmation prompts**: Required for manual execution
+- **Audit log**: All purges tracked (channel, count, timestamp, executor)
+- **Rate limit handling**: Respects Discord API limits
+- **Max messages limit**: Configurable per-purge (default: 10,000)
+
+## Testing Checklist
+
+- [ ] Configure retention for test channel
+- [ ] Verify notification accuracy (Phase 1)
+- [ ] Test manual execution (Phase 2)
+- [ ] Verify only correct messages deleted
+- [ ] Test auto-delete (Phase 3)
+- [ ] Test bulk delete vs individual delete paths
+- [ ] Verify error handling (missing permissions, rate limits)
+- [ ] Verify audit log completeness
+- [ ] Confirm message content never accessed
+
+## Future Enhancements
+
+- Whitelist users (exclude specific users' messages)
+- Exempt pinned messages
+- Reaction-based protection (preserve messages with specific reactions)
+- Export messages before deletion (archive to S3)
+- Web dashboard for configuration
diff --git a/docs/PurgeFeatureSummary.md b/docs/PurgeFeatureSummary.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b89661e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/PurgeFeatureSummary.md
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+# Purge Feature Summary
+
+**TL;DR**: Automated message cleanup for Discord channels with configurable retention policies. Progressive build: notify → manual → auto-delete.
+
+## Commands
+
+```
+/mod purge view                                          # View all configs
+/mod purge set channel:#general days:30                  # Set retention
+/mod purge set channel:#off-topic days:7 autodelete:true # Enable auto-delete
+/mod purge execute channel:#general                      # Manual purge
+/mod purge disable channel:#important                    # Disable
+```
+
+## Build Order
+
+**Phase 1: Notification Only** (Build first)
+- Scheduled checks find old messages
+- Notify mods via mod-comms
+- No deletion
+- Monitor 2-4 weeks
+
+**Phase 2: Manual Execution** (Build second)
+- Add `/mod purge execute` command
+- Mods trigger purge manually
+- Verify deletion works
+- Run 2-4 weeks
+
+**Phase 3: Auto-Delete** (Build last)
+- Add `autodelete:true` flag
+- Auto-delete on schedule
+- Start with low-risk channels
+
+## Configuration
+
+```bash
+PURGE_SCHEDULE_CRON="0 9 * * 0"      # Every Sunday 9 AM UTC
+PURGE_MOD_CHANNEL_ID="123456789"     # Notification channel
+PURGE_BATCH_SIZE="100"               # Messages per batch
+PURGE_BATCH_DELAY_MS="1000"          # Delay between batches
+```
+
+## Database Schema
+
+```sql
+-- Channel configs
+CREATE TABLE purge_config (
+  channel_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+  retention_days INTEGER NOT NULL,
+  autodelete_enabled BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE
+);
+
+-- Audit trail
+CREATE TABLE purge_history (
+  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
+  channel_id TEXT,
+  executed_at TIMESTAMP,
+  messages_deleted INTEGER,
+  trigger_type TEXT,  -- 'manual', 'auto', 'scheduled_check'
+  triggered_by TEXT
+);
+```
+
+## Privacy
+
+**Message content is never accessed.**
+- Bot only reads message ID and timestamp
+- No message content, author, or attachments accessed
+- Audit log contains only counts and timestamp ranges
+
+## Discord Permissions
+
+- `MANAGE_MESSAGES` - Delete messages
+- `READ_MESSAGE_HISTORY` - Fetch metadata (ID, timestamp only)
+- `VIEW_CHANNEL` - Access channels
+
+## Discord API Limits
+
+- **Bulk delete**: Max 100 messages, must be < 14 days old
+- **Individual delete**: 5 messages/sec for older messages
+- Bot uses bulk when possible, falls back to individual
+
+## Safety Features
+
+- Progressive 3-phase rollout
+- Confirmation prompts for manual execution
+- Audit log for all purges
+- Rate limit handling
+- Error recovery (continues on failure)
+
+## Quick Start
+
+1. Set env vars:
+   ```bash
+   PURGE_SCHEDULE_CRON="0 9 * * 0"
+   PURGE_MOD_CHANNEL_ID="your-mod-channel-id"
+   ```
+
+2. Configure test channel:
+   ```
+   /mod purge set channel:#test days:30
+   ```
+
+3. Wait for scheduled check or test manually
+
+4. Verify notification accuracy
+
+5. Monitor 2-4 weeks, then build Phase 2
+
+## References
+
+- Full spec: [PurgeFeatureSpec.md](./PurgeFeatureSpec.md)
+- Discord Bulk Delete: https://discord.com/developers/docs/resources/channel#bulk-delete-messages