"it impugns the integrity and reputation of the candidate, even though there’s no finding by a court, or in this instanc

[pdq]

The investigation was completed, at the time. The discovery of some additional emails to review doesn't make that prior statement a lie.

I find it striking (really striking) that he could find the time to write a letter to staff, because he knew this would stir up a lot of "misunderstanding", but couldn't be bothered to do anything else to minimize the possibility of that "misunderstanding".