It seems that I've mixed a few things up, staffers, e-mails, and the IMs, and you are right, it is important to find out how ABC got them. (and when)
It seems Edmund's has a lot of 'splaining to do. If he didn't give his IMs to ABC, he's got the perfect opportunity to call them out and demand an answer. If he did give them the IMs, he needs to explain why he's allowed them to misrepresent the entire sordid mess.