Pontius Pilate, in both the biblical & extra-biblical texts, provides an understanding of how a leader passes the buck. The idiom to "wash one's hands" is inspired by Pilate.

Pilate absolved himself of a responsibility for a decision which he himself made.

Before Pilate met Jesus

The Josephus, the Roman Jewish historian, covered Pontius Pilate in great detail. From Josephus' accounts, we know that:

Pilate had been under extreme Jewish fanaticism & public pressure before encountering Jesus.

He was committed to enforcing Pax Romana, even if it offended Jewish sensibilities.

The Roman ensigns

Pilate was well acquainted with Jewish fanaticism before he came face-to-face with Jesus. In the Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus writes,

"On one occasion, when the soldiers under (Pilate's) command came to Jerusalem, he made them bring their ensigns with them, upon which were the usual images of the emperor. Roman battle standards were considered idolatrous by the Jews.

"The ensigns were brought in secretly by night, but their presence was soon discovered. Immediately multitudes of excited Jews rushed to Caesarea to petition him for the removal of the obnoxious ensigns. He ignored them for five days, but the next day he admitted the Jews to hear their complaint.

"He had them surrounded with soldiers and threatened them with instant death unless they ceased to trouble him with the matter. The Jews then threw themselves to the ground and bared their necks, declaring that they preferred death to the violation of their laws. Pilate, unwilling to kill so many, succumbed and removed the ensigns."

Using Temple Funds

A vigorous enforcer of Pax Romana, by any means, Pilate appropriated Jewish Temple funds to build an aqueduct. Josephus writes, in The Wars of the Jews,

"At another time he used the sacred treasure of the Temple, called corban (qorban), to pay for bringing water into Jerusalem by an aqueduct.

"A crowd came together and clamored against him; but he had caused soldiers dressed as civilians to mingle with the multitude, and at a given signal they fell upon the rioters and beat them so severely with staves that the riot was quelled."

Christ before Pontius Pilate by Mihaly Munkacsy

What do we learn from the biblical text on Pontius Pilate?

The Pontius Pilate Rules

       Ask the crowd.
       Let the crowd make the decision. 
       At all costs maintain the status quo. 
       Obey the crowd, even though it is morally repugnant. 
       The leader, manager or father is not responsible. 
       Its the individual or group's choice. 
       We cannot override free will.

Jesus before Pilate

       11 Now Jesus stood before [Pilate] the governor, 
             and the governor asked Him, 
           “Are you the King of the Jews?” [In affirmation] Jesus said to him, 
           “It is as you say.” 
       12 But when the charges were brought against Him 
             by the chief priests and elders, 
             He did not answer. 
       13 Then Pilate said to Him, 
             “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” 
       14 But Jesus did not reply to him, not even to a single accusation, 
             so that the governor was greatly astonished.
       15 Now at the feast [of the Passover] 
             the governor was in the habit of setting free 
             any one prisoner whom the people chose. 
        16 And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner 
              [guilty of insurrection and murder], called Barabbas. 
        17 So when they had assembled [for this purpose], 
              Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to set free for you? 
              Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 
        18 For Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy 
               that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him.
        19 While he was seated on the judgment seat, 
               his wife sent him a message, saying, 
              “Have nothing to do with that righteous and innocent Man; 
                for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” 
        20 But the chief priests and the elders 
              persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas 
              and to put Jesus to death. 
        21 The governor said to them, 
              “Which of the two do you wish me to set free for you?” 
              And they said, “Barabbas.” 
        22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” 
              They all replied, “Let Him be crucified!” 
        23 And he said, “Why, what has He done that is evil?” 
              But they continued shouting all the louder, “Let Him be crucified!”
         24 So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, 
               but rather that a riot was breaking out, 
               he took water and washed his hands 
               [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] 
               in the presence of the crowd, saying, 
              “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 
          25 And all the people answered, 
               “Let [the responsibility for] His blood be on us and on our children!” 
          26 So he set Barabbas free for them; 
                but after having Jesus severely whipped (scourged), 
                he handed Him over to be crucified.
                Matt 27:11-25