To me, that question is irrelevant.
This excuse comes up all the time, from Gen Petraeus to Paul Ryan to Justice Roberts.
They all swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, did they not?
If they were/are being blackmailed, they should step down. They freely chose their occupation and if they cannot rightly serve this country, for whatever reason, they are obligated to allow someone else do the job.
If they are acting independently; selling us down the river on their own free will, they not only should step down, but be tarred and feathered as well. Then locked up.
None of us get a pass for breaking the law or violating a contract or being derelict in our duty, and neither should those in power.
I agree with you. Blackmail or not, certainly someone up there has to have cajones. And, come on, while we all have sinned, who really out there has a “blackmail-able” offense in their history? I sure don’t.