Considering that these people can tie their shoelaces, drive a car, and operate video equipment, I don't believe that it can be brushed off as just gross incompetence. There's no other plausible explanation to this sequence other than corruption - caused either by bribery or by serious bias.

I don’t think there’s any reason to think it’s corruption. Unconscious bias for sure. But I do think incompetence, solipsism & profound misunderstandings of the game are more likely

Groupthink, herd mentality, not wanting to embarrass a colleague (or appealing to authority), or just fear of making a forthright/brave decision - all these factors are present in some way. The collective impact of all those normal human behaviors is more likely than bags of money being exchanged.

Yes all of this. It looks like a very hierarchical place as well, The usual traits of a healthy and diverse workplace are obviously missing.