The problem with this threat is that once the cat is out of the bag, you can't put it back in. It's similar as making defamatory statements in court and having it stricken from the record - "OBJECTION!"

The problem is, you can't force the jury to un-hear that. The damage is done. You can't unring a bell. You've tainted their opinion, whether the judge tries to undo it or not.

If you put a gag order on me and suggest trying me for contempt of court if I say anything and I think the value of me talking is greater than that of my freedom, I will speak up. If I can get around the gag order by using a warrant canary to implicitly say what I'm not allowed to say without being tried for being in contempt of court, then that's what I will do. Until the laws are rewritten to prevent the use of warrant canaries, there's nothing the courts can do about this. It's a valid loophole.

There's little point in killing my family if everything I know is already out there in the wind. I can't do any more harm than has already been done. All you have is retribution. Our agencies often take a pretty dim view of retribution. Chances are, I'd just end up with a contempt of court charge and be thrown in jail, potentially indefinitely. But realistically, the damage is done. Once again, you can't unring a bell.

There's little they can legally do to pursue my family, there would be political uproar. So beyond charging me, I imagine they'd be relatively safe.