As for Joe's quote, you (like everyone else) purposefully left out the words "with the benefit of hindsight..."
That preface was for his own personal and legal benefit. You think Joe was so disconnected to what was going on that he didn't or shouldn't have know.
BTW, I made no mention of physical evidence. There were lots of settlements paid out without even having to go to trial. Government agencies do not settle so quickly unless the evidence is very convincing.