Pilate was a Roman governor
And by written accounts, Pilate used his status.
While the historical record is fairly sparse, one account of Pilate captures his concern that a group of Jews might go to Rome and
expose his conduct as governor by stating in full the briberies, the insults, the robberies, the outrages and wanton injuries, the executions without trial constantly repeated, the ceaseless and supremely grievous cruelty.
