The note adds, “For that reason, we are removing this fact-check from our database pending a more thorough review. Currently, we consider the claim to be unsupported by evidence and in dispute.” The original fact-check is still available on PolitiFact’s website for, as the group says, “transparency and archival purposes.” The editor’s note fails to explain why, exactly, they chose to believe their sources over others. What hard evidence did PolitiFact’s sources provide that led them to believe Dr. Yan was indisputably wrong? Not even a little wrong — "pants on fire" wrong. For that matter, what evidence did the Washington Post have when it accused Cotton of pushing a “conspiracy theory”? These media outlets were so certain the lab theory was wrong. They were so certain Cotton and others couldn’t possibly be right. Their misplaced certainty had them practically tripping over themselves to declare the theory a lie and a falsehood, even though they had no evidence proving anything of the sort.