As someone once told me when I lamented that I don't talk to a certain person more often, they stopped me and pointed out that the phone system works in both directions. There are two people not talking to each other, not just me.

Dick participated, he could have blown the whistle, and he didn't, so he deserves a share of the guilt. He is not innocent. But if you didn't build the house of cards, then it's not your fault, it's the group's fault. If you colluded to remove people who would have said something, then you get more of a share of the blame. Anyone could have blown the whistle, not just you. Even if it's obvious that you are the most likely whistleblower, there could have been others. (And if you were the most obvious, you can't anonymously tip someone off because everyone will know it's you, so you're doubly screwed.)

One of the things slimeballs have intuited for millenia is that if you really believe something crazy, nobody is going to pick up that you're lying because you believe it. You've lied to yourself, and then fastidiously avoided looking at the lie so that you can maintain your innocence, and your profit stream. You're guilty as sin, with extra sins piled on top.