I have zero sympathy for Roberts. An honorable man would recuse himself or resign.
I also have zero sympathy for him. If he's not being blackmailed then he's a corrupt, politicized hack impersonating a judge. And if he is being blackmailed, well, he made his bed.
I will say this though, it would be a real rookie move to blackmail a guy at this level and not make it clear that if he talks or tries to resign, it all comes out immediately. You don't hook a fish that big and then give him an escape route unless you're an amateur. And let's face it, Obama's camp are not amateurs at thug tactics.