1) The blackmailers have little motive not to just demand bigger ransoms later until they get as much as they can. When they finally run you out of what you can pay or are willing to pay then what? Likely they release it and all your ransom is for nothing.
2) Paying makes blackmail more profitable, and encourages more blackmail of others and maybe even yourself on a future occasion.
3) If you have done something shabby, it is best to come clean. Repentance is never fun, but it is the right thing and good for the soul.
What if it’s more than shabby and would possibly invite and investigation and possibly prison time.
I’d rather go to my mother in law’s than go to prison.
One has to wonder what could possibly be embarrassing for progressives when they support all sorts of perversions.
4. Most progressives are also doing the leg work to weaken America with respect to Russia, so I would call their bluff.