This is a nasty example of poisoning the well.
<We won't say what happened, but don't believe them if they do.> Gross.
This nasty well poisoning makes me lean toward the power grab model. But that doesn't make sense, because the mods resigned; they can't take power.
Unless we're talking a _Death Note_ tier plan where they resign, causing such a stink that they're invited back as the only honest brokers. That kind of thing only works in cartoons.