[sappapp]

No one has provided evidence of this either. But, if the evidence is presented it still doesn't prove that there is a conflict of interest.

[aksss]

I think the standard is to avoid the appearance of a conflict, not to have plausible deniability. I think the person’s point is that it doesn’t look good, and this is the kind of scenario where _you need everything to look good_, because when shit like this happens, it erodes confidence all the more.