As soon as a person becomes aware of a transgression they should say so. In this case, playing politics with timing is offensive to people who suffered with covid or with the covid restrictions. The partygate behaviour was also offensive of course, but Dominic Cummings was not the only person aware of it.
Were party minions scared of losing their jobs if they came clean? Hoping all the blame would be deflected to Boris Johnson personally at a more convenient moment? What a disgusting manipulation all round.