[086421357909764]

It's actually possible they have a National Security Gag order. If that's the case they could only deny anyway.

[okket]

But they don't, they explicitly mentioned they are not under a gag order, which is the first thing you are forbidden to mention when you are gagged. That is the reason why "warrant canaries" exist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary

[usrusr]

I think what GP was suggesting is that lower level employees might be under individual gag order, keeping them from ever reporting the incident to their higher ups (including those responsible for the warrant canary).