[IncPen]

The only honorable thing for Powel to do (if this is the case) is to resign or (if not true) refute it.

[dpwiener]

or (if not true) refute it

You do not want to get caught in that trap (i.e., refuting every absurd rumor that somebody tries to float). Otherwise you spend all your time denying rumors, and then if you fail to deny a rumor that is taken as evidence that it is true.