RI - Just admit you were wrong and that you should have deferred judgement to those in a better position to judge.
Honestly, I have no idea why some people just cannot put their hand up and say "I was wrong."
It's like when people apologise by saying - "If I have offended anyone, I apologise."
That's not an apology, it's a failed mathematical equation.
"If I have done X, then Y. But I am not saying I have done X, but if you believe I have done X, then Y."