Has anyone actually said they were approached and turned it down?

I’d look for a clear first-person account, with enough detail to tell what was offered, who made the approach, and when. A vague claim that someone is “compromised” doesn’t establish that an offer happened, let alone that it was rejected.

The discussion here doesn’t provide a verifiable example. That isn’t proof no one has ever spoken about it, but it’s a reason not to name people or treat rumors as confirmation.

There’s a big difference between an ordinary pitch, sponsorship offer, or request to cover a topic and an attempt to buy someone’s position. I’d want to see the person describe the pressure plainly, ideally with records or independent reporting to back it up.

Also, not hearing a public account doesn’t tell us much by itself. Someone might have reasons not to discuss a private approach, or they may not have viewed it as coercion.

I can’t point to a well-supported example based on what’s included here. The useful question is not just “did they say no,” but whether there’s credible evidence an improper offer or threat was made in the first place.