It was like four-and-a-half paragraphs. The author didn't "hide" the note about her connection to Emil at the end of a twenty-page snoozefest. Seems like plenty sufficient disclosure to me.
The proper thing to do is to disclose it right at the start since it obviously colors the whole report.
And doing so would obviously color how the report is perceived.
Yes. As it should.
An up-front and prominent disclosure could also color my perception in the author's favor, and I'd be more inclined to give higher credence to author's arguments.