Totally depends on how much I like the president in question. I mean, do I loathe him? Is he evil? Then, absolutely, I blow the whistle. I can handle being framed and fired and stuff, no big, particularly if I'm vindicated in five years. If I'm never vindicated? Then, again if he's evil, I'm still going to do it, but my definition of evil may be a bit more stringent. However, if I think he's not all that evil or he's the lesser of two evils or if my doing this means the country will likely end up in the hands of right wing psychopaths? The president can keep right on extorting.

Oh and if it isn't clear, my own personal definition of serious crimes and the legal definition of serious crimes could quite possibly be worlds apart (it would not be the first time.) As far as turning him in, I am only worried about my own definition. In other words, if he's doing bonghits in the oval office, I am not turning him in, not ever, no way.

Totally with MGL on all counts.

If you are never vindicated how can you be sure that you aren't just delusional?
With the knowledge that vindication, and validation, would be forthcoming I think exposing the president is the right thing to do. As mygothlaundry points out, some consideration would have to be given to the alternative . . .

Karma... do what's right

Burn them all.

How would a POTUS commit extortion? I mean Bush, for all of his crimes never got around to that one.

I think that MGL nailed it, though. If I am that high up in life that I am in the position to influence this, then I probably have a few bodies left back there in my past.

MGL's answer, all the way.

I did this in my workplace. The person I blew the whistle on, to prevent his promotion, was actually worse than I knew at the time. He didn't get promoted, and not long afterward more information came out about him and he left the office. Meanwhile I was universally villified and ostracized. I was never personally vindicated. (I have a different job now.)

I'd do it again in a minute. I don't think I could tolerate myself if I hadn't.

MGL nailed it for me. This is a very personal choice and it would be important to think through the ramifications and whether they would result in a worse situation.

Sure, why not. I got nuthin else goin on.

I'd do it even without vindication. It's the right thing to do. Next question.

If it was serious enough, I'd do it, regardless of what side they were on. But it's really hard to answer in the abstract.

Extortion is almost always a really horrifying thing, because it's not just extortion - it's not just trying to squeeze out money or silence someone. You can't really extort without a threat of murder or at least clear harm, and you also have to have something to extort about, which suggests it's probably a whole lot more complicated. The need for extortion is a serious symptom that indicates something probably even worse is going on.

I'd have to know more and feel like it was pretty serious. But if I knew what was what and still had those convictions, then I would speak up. It would suck to be in that position but it would have to be done.

Really late to this, but I was thinking, what if the President is extorting a bunch of war criminals? I might just shrug it off. The extent to which innocent people are involved would probably determine what I would do, but it would be my personal and idiosyncratic definition of innocence... my personal moral judgments on the victims. Or "victims", if they're, you know, like war criminals or something. I don't think it's going to be an objective decision to anyone except me.