“I’m more and more convinced that he was threatened in a way that had teeth.”
Probably; it’s how the Chicago mob/political machine operates. Blackmail and worse are SOP for these people. Roberts knows better; this isn’t what his life has been about. Something evil was threatened, I believe.
If he was really threatened, and has any principles left, then we should see him step down as soon as a Republican president takes office. After all, he would have to know that he has been compromised and cannot reliably fulfill his oath of office anymore. If he doesn’t step down, then he either wasn’t threatened, or doesn’t have any principles.