This is how the political elite operate.

The top dogs are meant to never "know" anything. This gives them the authority to give commands that go against the rules while maintaining "innocence" by not "knowing" at the time. Whether it's insider trading or making shady deals, the top dogs are set up to know the plan without any paper trail showing it, and only "discover" the information later when it's time to hide their tracks.

This is why upper administrators are very particular about "when" facts come to the desk of their leaders; they don't want to be audited later with knowing something earlier than it is convenient for them.