[seanhunter]

That is as pure an example of the fallacy of argument from authority[1] as I have ever seen especially when you consider that any nuance in the supposed letter from the researchers to the board will have been lost in the translation from "sources" to the journalist to the article.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority

[abhpro]

That fallacy's existence alone doesn't discount anything (nor have you shown it's applicable here), otherwise we'd throw out the entire idea of authorities and we'd be in trouble

[mejutoco]

Authorities are useful within a context. Appealing to authority is not an argument. At most, it is an heuristic.

_Using_ this fallacy in an argument invalidates the argument (or shows it did not exist in the first place)

[Eisenstein]

When the person arguing uses their own authority (job, education) to give their answer relevance, then stating that the authority of another person is greater (job, education) to give that person's answer preeminence is valid.