a month later, I resigned. They were a bully who perceived any geniuine question as a challenge. Good people, coming out of meetings trying not to cry. I was coming out of meetings feeling like I was being beaten up.
My last day is next Thursday. People keep telling me how envious they are of me. I'm feeling guilt for leaving them in the lurch.
Keep in touch with them, and let them know of opportunities that fit them where you landed, if it's a better place.
You are not making their lives any worse. Most likely you don't even have that kind of power.
The problem is the sociopath behaviour and attitudes, that will project all their bad feelings unto others. The sociopath won't acknowledge their own state, so will blame others, also knowingly and silently for personal gain.
The remedy is radical honesty and working with oneself. Nobody else can do the work for someone, but breaking the patterns can be inspiring.
Don't let authority gain undue power over your lives. Some day you will regret it.
Perhaps you meant to write "Keep in mind you acted in good faith"?
Should those board members do nothing, you now know to avoid their companies in the future :)
Scenarios like this never work out well for the person doing the "complaining", whether you're going above your manager to their manager or your CEO to their board.
It's not worth your time, energy, or reputation. Focus your energy elsewhere, it's not your fight anymore.