Is there biblical basis for the claim that Pilate had no choice?

There is a trend among Christians to put the guilt of killing Jesus on Jews rather than on Romans. Some Christians go as far as to proclaiming Pilate a saint (as did either Ethiopian or Coptic church if I am not mistaken). I wonder is there biblical basis for such whitewashing of Pilate? For example, some people on this site claimed in other answers that if Pilate did not execute Jesus, there would be a popular riot or Pilate could be fired from his position. Is there biblical evidence that this indeed would happen and Pilate acted with no choice?