“So, again... why do we weekly pour out scorn for Pilate’s name, for millenia, and not Caiaphas?”
Ultimately, he could have told the Jewish leaders “Screw you, I work for Caesar, and this man isn’t guilty of anything except irritating you. Now get out of here before I summon Thugus Maximus and have him feed the cat.” Pilate’s lack of leadership is worthy of scorn, although he was in fact meant to do what he did, so that we could be redeemed.
If he had released Jesus there would have been a up rising that the High Priest most assuredly instigated ( community organizers instigators ).
Doesn’t matter if Pilate was even a strong leader, Caesar warned him about another up rising, it either could have been his job, or his life at stake.
He was placed in a no win win situation.