> You do realize it is called a scandal _because of_ the lack of response?
There's a difference between a lack of response due to incompetence and uncaring officials (which this clearly was) versus "silencing" which suggests not only a deliberate ignoring of the problem but active steps to hide it - neither of which is the case because people kept bringing it up! Yes, higher-ups were incompetent and stupid and uncaring and probably hoped it would go away if they ignored it but that's a whole world away from an active conspiracy to "silence" things.
There's a difference between a lack of response due to incompetence and uncaring officials (which this clearly was) versus "silencing" which suggests not only a deliberate ignoring of the problem but active steps to hide it - neither of which is the case because people kept bringing it up! Yes, higher-ups were incompetent and stupid and uncaring and probably hoped it would go away if they ignored it but that's a whole world away from an active conspiracy to "silence" things.