This, when coupled with all those hacked e-mails that discuss problems with the data, looks pretty damning.
Whattya bet there's a spare copy all set to be traded to a DA somewhere in return for some junk scientist's immunity? What are the odds one or more lab assistants turns up dead? It would be interesting to watch Intrade.com list a few of these questions. Gotta get more popcorn today.
Exactly one of my first thoughts when I read about this. They make a claim that the data is destroyed and see if the powers that be will press them legally or or on a funding level. If not then they are in the clear. If they are forced into a corner and "discover" copies given to a peer scientist then the data will then get reviewed to see if there was absolute fudging or incompetence.
It’s a shame Michael Crighton died. I wonder if he’d be surprised by any of this or simply say “I told you so !”
Gore never was willing to accept Crighton’s challenge to debate AGW. I assumed it was because Gore is an idiot, knows he’s an idiot, and knows he’d look stupid trying to debate an actual scientist like Crighton. Now, it’s pretty clear he just didn’t want a public forum that would expose how fraudulent the whole AGW data has been from the start.