The definition of bad public relations is when you take a minor issue and turn it into a major crisis.
This is a textbook case of it.
At this stage the facts on the ground become totally irrelevant—and optics become critical.
There is a proven method for fixing these types of situations—both in politics and the corporate world.
1. Make somebody the scapegoat. I think everyone here knows who that needs to be.
2. Explain you were given bad information—but the people who gave you the bad information are gone.
3. Announce that the new team will change course and investigate the issue, whatever it is.
4. Then show outstanding new accomplishments that get the critics to lose interest in the old crisis.
Trump has quite literally Streisand Effected Jeffrey Epstein back from Hell.