However, since she didn't work on anything relevant, they have to do research without any guidance.

It's Day 1. They can't come out and say "we don't know what she's talking about or where she got her data, so we can't refute it."

As PR, the worst thing for them to do is deny something only to be hit by factual evidence; they'd rather know all the evidence to begin with them try to put it in a good light or reveal a good reason for things being that way.