It is possible that he is being blackmailed. But it just doesn't feel right. He sounded too convincing to be coerced into it. I think he's been a punk from the get go. He has lied too easily. But then again, what would I do if a bunch of convicts had my family? I'd like to think that I'd come clean to the people at the Tower and work that angle to get my family back but who knows.
Either way, he's up to no good in the Tower.